



n 



xM 




Gass. 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




JAS. R. CARNAHAN, 



Major-General Commanding the Uniform Rank. 



Pythian Knighthood 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE 



BEING AN 



ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS 
OF PYTHIAS, WITH A STATEMENT OF THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH 
IT IS FOUNDED J INCLUDING AN ESSAY ON SECRET SOCIE- 
TIES, SYRACUSE AND DIONYSIUS, THE ENTIRE TEXT 
OF THE DRAMA OF "DAMON AND PYTHIAS," A RE- 
VIEW OF THE ENDOWMENT AND UNIFORM 
RANKS, AND CHOICE SELECTIONS FROM 
MANY SOURCES CONCERNING THE 
OBJECTS, AIMS AND TENETS 
OF THE ORDER 









HV 






James W Carnahan, M. A. 



LATE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF INDIANA, P. G. C, P. S. R. OF INDIANA, 
AND MAJ.-GEN. COMMANDING THE U. R. K. P. 



CINCINNATI 

The Pettibone Manufacturing Company 

FRATERNITY PUBLISHERS 

18S8 






.O2.8 



KNTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1887, BY 

JAMES R. CARNAHAN, 

IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D. C. 



RESPECTFULLY AND FRATERNALLY DEDICATED 



OFFICERS AND SIR KNIGHTS 



UNIFORM RANK KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS 
OF THE WORLD, 

WITH THE EARNEST AND ABIDING DESIRE THAT THE RANK 

WHICH THEY SO NOBLY REPRESENT MAY PROSPER 

AND ABIDE FOR ALL TIME. 

JAMES R. CARNAHAN, 

MAJ.-GEN. U. K. K. P. 



PREFACE. 



IN the following pages we have designed to give to the student 
of Pythian Knighthood an outline account of the purposes, 
objects and aims of our Order, directing attention more especially 
to the salient features in its history, connected with its inception 
and organization, as well as its early struggles, failures, successes, 
and growth into what we believe to be its permanent establishment 
as one of the greatest Fraternal Societies of the World. It has 
not been considered desirable, nor have we attempted, to set forth 
every special act of legislation of the Supreme Lodge, in its minutest 
details, or to give an exhaustive history of the various Grand Ju- 
risdictions, as the seeker after dry statistics may find these items 
recorded in the published proceedings of the several Supreme or 
Grand Lodge Sessions. 

It has been our aim to deal justly with all who have had a part 
in the making of the history of the Order, and " with malice toward 
none." 

We have endeavored to present the advantages and beauties of 
the Order, as shown by its past history, with the hope that many 
more "good men and true" may be attracted to our portals, who 
will seek and obtain admission to our Castle Halls and aid us in 
exemplifying and disseminating the glorious lessons taught therein. 
The work was undertaken at the suggestion and solicitation of 
others, with much hesitation and fear on our part, which, however, 
soon gave place to an absorbing interest, as the study and research 
required brought to light newer beauties and grander possibilities 



VI PREFACE. 

for the future of the Order of Knights of Pythias, and now, at the 
completion of our task, we lay aside the pen to take up the sword 
and wield it with greater devotion to our chivalric organization than 
ever before. 

As the work progressed it has grown on our hands, and, despite 
our efforts to the contrary, has far exceeded the limits within which 
we expected to confine it. For this reason — and we herewith offer 
our apologies — it has been impossible to publish very many articles 
of literary merit which were kindly furnished for that portion of our 
book devoted to the literature of the Order, and which we have re- 
served with the intention of using in another work to be published 
in the near future. The articles we have given are sufficient, how- 
ever, to show the diversified literary talent of our membership, and 
to produce the desire for a work that shall be devoted exclusively 
to that feature of our Order. 

Brother Knights, we now commit this volume to your kind con- 
sideration, asking only that a brother's judgment shall be meted out 
to it in kindness, and if the reading of it shall lead you to a higher 
and better appreciation of the Knights of Pythias, we shall feel that 
our labor has not been in vain. 

Fraternally, 

JAMES R. CARNAHAN. 
May i, 18880 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Portrait of James R. Carnahan, frontispiece. 

Execution Scene, Facing page 44 



Portrait of Justus H. Rathbone, . 
Portrait of Samuel Read, . . . . 
Portrait of H. C. Berry, . . . . 

Portrait of S. S. Davis, 

Portrait of D. B. Woodruff, . . . 
Portrait of Geo. W. Lindsay, . . 
Portrait of Joseph Dowdall, . . . 
Portrait of John P. Linton, . . . 
Portrait of John Van Valkenburg, 
Portrait of Howard Douglass, . . 
Portrait of Gen. William Ward, 
Portrait of John W. Thompson, . 



102 

239 
286 

307 
324 
339 
345 
354 
36r 
374 
386 

389 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Secret Societies— Two Classes of— Antiquity of— Sought for by- 
Learned Men — The Promoters of Letters, Science, and Art — 
The Avenues by which the early Christians spread the Gos- 
pel — Have Stood the Test of Ages — The Spirit of 

CHAPTER II. 

Sicily and the Grecian Period — Syracuse— The Home of Culture 
and Wealth — Political Condition of Syracuse — The Reign of 
Gelon — Syracuse as a Democracy — Dionysius, the Tyrant — 
How he came into Power — His Wars with the Carthaginians — 
Tyranny and Tyrants — Review of the Life of Dionysius . . 



13 



CHAPTER III. 
The Historic Damon and Pythias 



CHAPTER IV, 
The Poetic Damon and Pythias 



44 



CHAPTER V. 

Origin of the Knights of Pythias — Declaration of Principles — 
Founders, Declaration of the Supreme Lodge as to — " Brief 
Sketch " — Affidavit of Authentication — Justus Henry Rath- 
bone —Robert Allen Champion — Wm. Henry Burnett — David 
L. Burnett — Edward Sullivan Kimball 102 



CHAPTER VI. 

Early History — Washington Lodge, No. 1, D. C. — Organization of 
Grand Lodge, D. C. — Franklin Lodge, No. 2, D. C. — Colum- 
bia Lodge, No. 3, D. C. — Potomac Lodge, No. 4, D. C. — 
Alexandria Lodge, No. 1, of Virginia — Grand Lodge Session, 



X TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

1865— G. L. Officers Elected— Condition of the Order June, 
i865~'66 — A Struggle for Life — Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 5, 
D. C. — Reorganization of the Grand Lodge, D. C. — J. T. K. 
Plant Expelled— G. L. Sessions 1866— G. L. Officers Elected— 
Liberty Lodge, No. 6, Granted a Charter — Rituals to be Re- 
tained in Lodge Room — Regalia of Subordinate Lodges 
Adopted — G. L. Installation Work Adopted — Webster Lodge, 
No. 7, Charter Granted — Condition of Lodges September 30, 
1866 — Amended G. L. Constitution Adopted — Lodges In- 
structed to do Work in Knights '' Degree " — Attendants Pro- 
vided For — Banker of Subordinate Lodge — Duty of— Condition 
of Lodges December 31, 1866 — Grand Lodge Working Rega- 
lia — Decision on Assessments — Qualifications for Membership 
Defined — The Order Established in Philadelphia — Excelsior 
Lodge, No. 1, of Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania to be Repre- 
sented in the Grand Lodge — Condition of the Order March 
31, 1867 — Columbia Lodge, No. 8, of District of Columbia, 
Granted Charter — Friendship Lodge, No. 8, Instituted — Offi- 
cers of Excelsior, No. I, of Pennsylvania, made P. C.'s — G. L. 
Officer's Election of 1867 — Condition of Lodges June 30, 
1867 — Keystone Lodge, No. 2, of Pennsylvania, Charter 
Granted — Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 3, of Pennsylvania, 
Charter Granted 120 

CHAPTER VII. 

Provisional Supreme Lodge — Grand Lodges, how instituted — Con- 
vention preparatory to Supreme Lodge — First Session Supreme 
Lodge, 1868 — Adjourned Session Supreme Lodge, 1868 — Ad- 
dress of Supreme Chancellor Samuel Read — First intimation 
of Higher Rank — Conclaves — Adoption of Supreme Lodge 
Seal, and description — Adoption of Supreme Lodge Mark, 
and description — Adoption of Supreme Lodge Regalia — 
Adoption of Ritual for Supreme Lodge — The German Ritual 
for Subordinate Lodges — Supreme, Grand and Subordinate 
Lodge Constitutions — Members of First Supreme Lodge — First 
Incorporation of Supreme Lodge, August, 1870 — Amended 
Act of Incorporation, October 5, 1875 — Amended Act of In- 
corporation, May, 1882 161 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Principles on which the Order is Founded — Construction — Semi- 
Military, Patterned after the Ancient Chivalry — Ranks — Page — 
Esquire — Knight — Declaration of Principles — Triplicates — 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI 

PAGE. 

Friendship — Charity — Benevolence — Expenditures for Re- 
lief—Caution—Bravery—Examples of Hines, Reynolds, Wood, 
Early, Dickinson, and Woodland — The Heroes of the Indian 
Territory 218 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Supreme Lodge 1869 to 1872 inclusive — Administration of Su- 
preme Chancellor Read— Growth of the Order — The " Con- 
claves " — " Degrees " changed to " Ranks " — Translations of 
the Ritual — Action in regard to Establishment in Foreign 
Countries — New Ritual Adopted — Amplified Third — Its Au- 
thor — Titles of Subordinate Lodge Officers changed — Positions 
and Duties of— Samuel Read, P. S. C 239 

CHAPTER X. 

An Interview with the Founder — The School-boy — The School- 
master — In Michigan — Writing the Ritual -Establishing the 
Order — The Conclave — Return to the Supreme Lodge — Sur- 
vivors. . , 267 

CHAPTER XL 

Supreme Lodge Sessions 1873-1874 — Administration of H. C. Berry 
as Supreme Chancellor — Growth of the Order — Barton Defal- 
cation — Financial Embarrassment of the Supreme Lodge — 
Expulsion of Barton — Troubles in Pennsylvania — Amended 
Supreme Lodge Constitution — Titles of Supreme Lodge Offi- 
cers Changed — Establishing the Order in Europe — Britannia 
Lodge, No. 1, of London, England — Henry Clay Berry, P. 
S. C 2 86 



CHAPTER XII. 

1874— 1878. 

Administration of Stillman S. Davis as Supreme Chancellor — Su- 
preme Lodge Debt — Struggles and Doubts — Joseph Dowdall, 
Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal — Condition of the Order 
— Hawaiian Islands — Petitions for the Natives — Yellow Fever 
at Savannah, Ga. — Uniform Rank Adopted — Stillman Samuel 
Davis, Sketch of 307 






FAGH. 



Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

1878— 1880. 

Administration of D. B. Woodruff— Yellow Fever Epidemic 1878— 
Condition of the Order— Three Years of Endowment Rank — 
Uniform Rank Established— D. B. Woodruff, Sketch of . . . 324 

CHAPTER XIV. 

1880— 1882. 

Administration of S. C. George W. Lindsay — Prosperity of the 
Order — Grand Lodges of Arkansas and Oregon Instituted — 
Obituary, Joseph Dowdall, S. K. of R. and S. — William Bryce 
Thompson, Supreme Prelate — Hugh Latham, S. M.A. — Joseph 
T. K. Plant, P. S. C— Ritual Revised— Sketch of Life of 
George W. Lindsay, P. S. C 339 

CHAPTER XV. 

1882— 1884. 

Administration of John P. Linton, as Supreme Chancellor — Growth 
during — Legislation for Uniform and Endowment Ranks — 
Election of John Van Valkenburg as Supreme Chancellor . . 354 

CHAPTER XVI. 



Administration of John Van Valkenburg, Supreme Chancellor — 
Growth of the Order — Financial Condition — Toronto Session 
and Reception — Major-General Added to the List of Supreme 
Lodge Officers— Death of P. S. C. S. S. Davis— Eulogy by S. 
C.Van Valkenburg — John Van Valkenburg, P. S. C, Sketch of 361 

CHAPTER XVII. 

1886— 1888. 

Howard Douglass, Supreme Chancellor — His Administration — 
Trouble in Pennsylvania — Gen. William Ward, Supreme Vice 
Chancellor — John W. Thompson, Supreme Outer Guard . . 374 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
The Endowment Rank 389 

CHAPTER XIX. 
The Uniform Rank 414 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. Xlll 

CHOICE SELECTIONS. 

PAGE. 

The Military Valu-a of the Uniform Rank. By John T. Thompson, 

Lieut. 2d Artillery 451 

Faithful Unto Death. Poem. By T. O. Winslow 464 

Address at the Dedication of a Castle Hall. By M. L. Stevens, P. 

G. C, of Maine 466 

An Acrostic. Friendship, Charity and Benevolence 475 

Response to Welcome Address, at Kokomo, Ind., July 3, 1884. 

By Hon. Walter B. Richie, S. R. of Ohio 476 

Pythian Poem . 480 

Our Conflict and Leader. A Sermon delivered in St. Matthew's 
Church, Bloomington, 111. By the Very Rev. Sir Wm. T. Whit- 
marsh, Dean of Bloomington, and Brigade Chaplain, U. R. K. 
P. of Illinois 482 

Chivalry. An Address delivered at the Dedication of a Castle 
Hall at Battle Creek, Mich., 1884. By Hon. D. F. Glidden, 
P. G. C. and S. R. of Michigan 492 

Anniversary Address. By R. L. C. White, S. K. of R. and S . . 498 

A Brother's Hand. Poem 512 

Our Order ; its Aims and Objects. By Hon. Geo. W. Lindsay, P. 

S. C 514 

Hymn. Dedicated to the Knights of Pythias. By S. F. Smith . 517 

Address at Pythian Banquet, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, February 

9,1876. By Hon. John VanValkenburg, P. S. C 518 

Pythian Knighthood; its Basis, Ends and Principles. Address 
delivered at Fall River, Mass., June 15, 1885. By Rev. L. 
V. Price, of Somerville, Mass 524 

Pythian Address, at Newton, Kan., February 19, 1884. By Hon. 

G. W. Holmes 536 

The Uniform Rank. Poem. By Gen. Frank Parson, of Missouri 547 

Address. By John A. Hinsey, P. G. C. and S. R. of Wisconsin . 548 

Lieut. Frederick F. Kislingbury. Memorial Address. By Will- 
iam Mill Butler, Editor of The Pythian Knight 553 

The Pythian Flag Up North. Poem. By William Mill Butler, 

Editor of The Pythian Knight ............. 560 



I 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD: 
ITS HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



CHAPTER I. 




Secret Societies — Two Classes of — Antiquity of — Sought for by 
Learned Men — The Promoters of Letters, Science, and Art — 
The Avenues by which the early Christians spread the Gospel — 
Have Stood the Test of Ages — The Spirit of. 

HERE is nothing new under the sun " is an old 
saying, and one of much truth. The adage may 
be applied to secret societies, for it must have 
been a very early period in the history of man 
in which they were not found. They came into 
existence as the natural outgrowth of the social nature of 
enlightened humanity. We seek companionship not 
from an artificial culture, but from a natural desire, and 
so came families, tribes, peoples, nations, banded to- 
gether for companionship, for strength, for protection, 
for profit, for culture of mind and soul. 

That we may not mislead nor be misunderstood, it may 
be well to understand what is the true definition of a 
secret society ; for while the number of these organizations 
is increasing with the growth of civilization, and the wants 
and necessities of mankind, there are those who oppose 
them and denounce them. This opposition comes almost 
wholly from the fact that the objectors do not realize fully 
what secret societies are, either from a legal stand-point, or 
from an actual or personal knowledge. They refuse to, or 

i 



2 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

cannot, by their social life and standing, enter within the 
portals, and be enlightened on the subject. 

Secret societies may be divided into two classes : 

First, those societies whose secrecy consists in nothing 
more than methods by which the members may be able to 
recognize each other, and thus be enabled to contribute to 
the comfort of those who may need assistance, and aid 
the truly worthy, who might otherwise be left to suffering 
and want, and at the same time to protect those whose 
hearts may be sympathetic from impostors and mercenary 
persons, who may fear the punishment of the law too 
much to steal, and yet are not "too proud to beg." In 
this class of secret societies are taught certain lessons, 
doctrines, and symbols, which can only be learned or 
obtained after a process of initiation, and under the 
promise, or binding obligation, that these mysteries shall 
not be made known to any who have not passed through 
the same ordeal and instructions and in the same manner 
as those who have been initiated. This class of secret 
societies, with the exception of things here mentioned, 
has no further private or secret matters from the public. 
Their membership is published to the world in the proces- 
sions and parades that are seen on our public streets every 
day, and in their public acts and declarations throughout 
the civilized world. 

The second class of secret societies are those which, in 
addition to the secret initiations, and their private manner 
of recognition, add also a secret doctrine, and an entire 
secrecy as to the objects and aims of their association; the 
membership is concealed, the times and places of meeting 
are kept from the knowledge of all who have not entered 
into these dark and mysterious bodies. 

These secret societies of the second class find no avowed 
advocates or defenders to-day among law abiding and loyal 
subjects in any civilized and enlightened country. In the 
first-named class are found all of the great body of those 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3 

moral and religious and benevolent secret societies that 
have come down to us from the early morning of civiliza- 
tion and culture of mankind, or have sprung up from the 
higher civilization of a more recent date, or have found 
their birth through the patriotism or philanthropy that 
finds its highest joy in ministering to the wants of a 
brother. 

These societies seek to enlist the noblest of humanity in 
their ranks. To this end their times and places of meet- 
ing are advertised by magnificent structures. Brick and 
stone and marble are gathered, and the brightest architect- 
ural talent is employed in their arrangement and combi- 
nation, until the building stands complete in its perfect 
and pleasing shape to attract the attention and thought 
and desires of men to learn the inner mysteries of an 
organization that only proclaims ' ' Peace on earth, and 
good will to men." Such, too, are the modern as well as 
the ancient secret societies that have guarded their portals 
by secret signs and signals, only that their social enjoy- 
ment, which is one of the divine gifts to man, may be 
more fully developed into a purer and more perfect sys- 
tem, without the intrusion into their midst of those who 
may be so gross in nature and disposition that they would 
cast a cloud over the otherwise brightness of a social 
gathering, or mar the pleasure of those whose sympathies 
are in accord each with the other. These, too, look well 
to that system of benevolence, which is so far-reaching in 
its aims and purposes that it stretches out its arms to carry 
the trembling orphan, dries the tears of the widow, sup- 
ports the tottering steps of the aged, nurses the sick, 
smooths the way of the dying, and buries the dead, and 
keeps alive only the good words and deeds of those who 
have passed beyond the river and rest on the other side. 
Such societies are secret only in their signs and in the 
lodge room. Otherwise, and in so far as the fruits that 
result from the secret meetings, either by day or by 



4 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

night, in practical exemplification of the tenets and doc- 
trines taught and enforced by obligations or vows about 
the altar of the lodge or castle hall, these societies are as 
open and as easy to be observed of all men as the sun at 
midday. "By their fruits ye shall know them;" fruits 
that are gathered in a full and abundant harvest. 

Secret societies of the second class are such as first 
sprang up in the Middle Ages, formed for absolutely secret 
purposes, and, in so far as their designs and purposes have 
become known, were for unlawful objects and aims, and 
against the rights of man, and not for his protection and 
defense, as in the first class of secret societies. The 
second class, where it has been revealed by subsequent 
events, was formed for the overthrow of thrones and 
nations and peoples. The first class has ever taught and 
proclaimed loyalty to the government under which its 
votaries found a home. The records of the world show 
that the second class has found its greatest enjoyment 
in the torturing of humanity, the groans, the cries, the 
blood of the oppressed. The societies of the first class 
have found their chiefest joy, their greatest strength, in re- 
lieving suffering and want, in lightening the burdens of the 
oppressed, in prolonging life instead of shortening it, in 
lifting men up and not pulling them down, and thus each 
member, one with the other, finding his greatest ambition 
and pleasure in striving which shall best work and best 
serve; and so working and striving they have made the 
world the brighter, mankind all the happier, and they 
themselves better by their acts and living. 

So those of us who are members of these modern as 
well as older secret societies, say to those who are not of 
us, answer the question and answer it truthfully : are there 
not two classes of secret societies, as here defined ; and if 
we are classed with the first, as we claim to be, then where 
is the sin; and if the fruits be good and are "for the heal- 
ing of the nations," as is found in every day's experience, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 5 

then why not cease condemning, and join in the good work? 

These societies of the first class have been tried by all 
the standards of the world, as men and nations try and 
test the affairs of men, that is, by what is done for man's 
betterment and purification, and it has been pronounced 
"good." And thus will the verdict of the mighty jury 
stand until time shall be no more. 

The Rev. DeWitt Talmage, D. D. , certainly one of the 
greatest divines of this age, on this question of secret so- 
cieties says: "But I was talking about secret societies. 
There isn't a day but the question is asked : 'Are the so- 
cieties which do their work with closed doors, and admit 
their members by passwords, and who give each other the 
secret grip, right or wrong ? ' It all depends whether the 
object for which they meet is good or bad, and whether 
they propose to meet the end by lawful or unlawful means. 
If they come together for purposes of revelry and wassail, 
or to plot mischief to the state, then with emphasis I say 
' No, they are not right. ' But if they gather together for 
the protection of a craft, for the reclamation of inebriates, 
for the advancement of art and literature, or as mutual 
benefit societies, to take care of orphans and widows, or to 
help support men who, through accident or sickness, are no 
longer able to earn a livelihood, then just as emphatically 
I say 'Yes.' 

1 ' There are secret societies centuries old in this land 
and in other lands. They have been very largely de- 
nounced as demoralizing institutions ; but I have hundreds 
of friends who belong to them who are consecrated men, 
pillars in churches, examples of piety and virtue. My 
common sense tells me that those men would not belong 
to a bad institution. Those are the men I would like to 
have for my executors, if I am so fortunate as to leave any- 
thing for my household when I die. They are the men 
who I would like to have carry me out to my last resting 
place when my work is done. They are the men who 



6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

would be the first to put their foot on anything like in- 
iquity, and I must, as a common sense man, take their 
testimony in regard to certain institutions rather than the 
testimony of those who, having been sworn into certain 
societies, by their attack of them afterward, prove them- 
selves to be perjurers. 

' ' Whose testimony shall I take as a common sense 
man, standing from the outside ? One of the great secret 
societies that has been largely condemned during the past 
few years, in 1883, in this country, gave $1,490,000 to take 
care of the sick. There are other secret societies which 
have for their foundation good citizenship and the Bible. 
Some of them have poured a heaven of sunshine and bene- 
diction into the houses of the suffering and the jDOor. 

"Of course, there are secret societies and secret so- 
cieties ; but here's a test for them : ' By their fruits ye 
shall know them. ' A bad society makes bad men ; a good 
society makes good men. A bad man will not stay in a 
good society ; a good man will not in a bad society. That 
is common sense as well as gospel. In most of the secret 
societies character is the test. The applicant must be a 
man of good repute. He must possess the best elements 
of citizenship. Men are social beings. To cry out against 
it is to cry out against something divinely appointed. 
Men are by nature gregarious." 

The secret societies were the first great schools for the 
arts and sciences, and in them were taught the principles 
of architecture. This was especially true among the Chal- 
deans, the Ethiopians, and the Egyptians. The youth 
entrusted to their care were taught the mysteries of religion 
of that day, and whether true or false, they were made the 
best citizens of their times; but they were required to give 
their greatest time to architectural designs, and from out 
the minds of these men came those magnificent temples 
and palaces, whose ruins alone are sufficient to put to 
shame the feeble efforts of the artisans of modern days. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. J 

It was from these men, who had gained their great 
knowledge in the secret sessions of their brotherhoods, 
came the kings, the statesmen, the warriors of ancient 
Egypt ; it was from their skill and by their genius that the 
land of the Pharaohs yet speaks to-day. It was this class 
of men that drew away from their homes in search of 
"more light" the renowned and illustrious men of ancient 
Greece— her law-givers, her philosophers, her statesmen, 
her poets, her musicians and historians. Thither went 
Solon, Pythagoras, Orpheus, Plato, Herodotus, JLycurgus, 
and others, that they might take upon themselves the 
vows and be initiated into the mysteries. 

These mysteries were passed from father to son, and to 
those novitiates who were brought in and down from the 
Egyptian era to the Greeks and the Romans. To the 
members of these fraternities was given the exclusive 
building of the temples, and they by law were made a 
privileged class, free from the burdens of taxation. They 
had their appointed places of meeting, and at these places 
they received the candidates for admission into their ranks, 
and were bound to one another by oath to afford to each 
other all needed assistance and support. They had their 
signs of recognition, and their symbols which were to illus- 
trate the principles and doctrines taught. These organiza- 
tions, fraternities, spread from Rome into the surrounding 
nations, everywhere carrying with them the arts and sci- 
ences, and in that way strengthening each separate people, 
whether in Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, or Britain. 
They were the aggressive agents of a higher and better 
civilization. They went with Roman legions in their cam- 
paigns. They mapped out the lines of road and superin- 
tended their construction ; their designs were put into 
execution in the bridges that spanned the rivers, and they 
directed and superintended their construction. Wherever 
they went they carried the higher arts and civilization of 
the Roman Empire, carrying into nations, with the sword 



5 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

as their protector, the arts, the sciences, and civil law. 
In the British Isles they found a lodgment early in the 
Christian era, and here they founded towns and cities. 

It was afterward that the early Christian missionaries 
found their way into these countries through the lodges 
of these fraternities, and under their care and protection 
that the gospel was first preached in Britain, and was pre- 
served in that country when in all others it seemed to 
have gone out in darkness. 

It was through these fraternities that the cities were re- 
built after the invasion of the Danes in the ninth cent- 
ury. But why add further words? The* history of the 
world has been written by these fraternities. Their culti- 
vation of the arts and sciences, the fostering care given by 
them to letters and literature, the protection vouchsafed 
by them to the early Christians, has transformed the world 
from a wild waste to one of beauty, comfort, and joy. 

So then, as the friend and defender, the founder and 
propagator of the arts and the sciences, the supporter of 
the Christian believer, and the preserver of Christianity, 
the fraternities, secret societies, are good. 

Let us apply another test, and try secret societies from 
that stand-point. "Time proves all things." By this 
test we, who are friends and members of secret societies, 
are willing that they shall be tried. By this trial He 
who "spake as never man spake" taught the multitudes 
that gathered on the plains and mountain sides, by the 
rivers and on the shores of the lakes of Judea, listening 
to his words of wisdom as He advised them, to prove all 
things whether they were true or false, human or divine, 
the trial by long life, permanency. And so we now chal- 
lenge those who find fault, who criticise, who denounce 
secret societies as immoral and unholy in their tendencies, 
and we say to them if they be not of God, for good, why 
is it that through all the years of persecution and of trial 
by fire and sword, by scourgings and torturings, by burn- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 9 

ings and death, they have not been everlastingly destroyed 
and blotted out of existence ? Why is it that from the 
days of Zoroaster, 2000 B. C, these secret societies have 
lived and flourished ? True, their votaries were driven 
from their homes, and were forced to flee to the mountains 
and dens and caves of the earth, but they came forth after 
each period of persecution only to take a firmer hold on 
the hearts of men. 

I think we may find that one great cause for the early 
establishment of secret societies among men was and is the 
inherent belief in a higher power than man, the spiritual 
striving for a higher and purer life. So we find the an- 
cient secret societies were formed for moral and religious 
training ; such were what is known as the ' ■ Ancient Mys- 
teries, " whose object was, by their initiations to cultivate 
a purer worship than the popular one. Each of those 
organizations or bodies, whether gathered about Pythag- 
oras or Plato, found a God to worship ; not one of their 
own class, nor fashioned by human hands, but one who to 
them was King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A faith in a 
God whom they believed to be endowed with omniscience, 
omnipotence and omnipresence, was the central point in 
all their universe of thought and desire. Such were the 
schools — societies of the old philosophers. Antedating 
the Jewish religion, the Supreme Being that was made 
the central figure in the teaching of Zoroaster was identi- 
cal with the Jewish idea or conception of Jehovah. He 
is called the " Creator of the earthly and spiritual life, 
the Lord of the whole universe, at whose hands are all the 
creatures." They taught that " He is wisdom and intel- 
lect ; the light itself and the source of light ; the rewarder 
of the virtuous, and the punisher of the wicked." These 
societies, long before Judaism had its birth, taught the 
idea of a future life and the immortality of the soul. Here 
too was first taught the doctrine of the resurrection of the 
body, and an eternal existence in a heaven or a hell. The 



IO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

heaven was called the ' ' house of hymns, because the 
angels sang hymns there." In these beliefs have all the 
secret societies of what we have termed the first class 
been formed from their earliest advent until the present 
time. 

In these beliefs, which to-day are the beliefs of the 
entire Christian world, is found our first answer to the 
question why secret societies have lived and do live, spite 
of the persecutions that have come upon them. It is the 
God in man that makes and gives them life. As it has 
been in the past, as to their life and growth, so it will be in 
the future, only that they will come into greater and 
broader fields, and the light that lights their pathway will 
grow more and more until it comes to the perfect day of 
spiritual light and knowledge. 

Not only have these societies made the belief in a 
Divine Creator — God — one of the chief stones in the 
building, but from the earliest time in their existence have 
they believed in the brotherhood of man — one common 
family, with rights and powers inherent in each, and which 
should be respected by each and all. This was and is a 
doctrine that has been difficult to establish in its broadest 
and fullest sense among men. While all to-day admit it 
to be the proper basis on which all society should rest, 
yet the history of every-day life in this the closing of the 
nineteenth century, as in the early ages, points to man's 
inhumanity toward his fellows, and wrong and oppression 
sit in high places. Some there always have been who 
have respected the rights of others; some who, long 
before the Christian era, tried to practice themselves and 
inculcate in others the practice of the great command- 
ment: " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto 
you, do ye even so to them." 

The founders of these societies taught the disciples that 
gathered about their feet to respect the rights, the prop- 
erty, the lives of their fellow men as those of brothers. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. II 

In furtherance of these ends and objects they taught a life 
of morality, honor, and purity. Through these societies 
the teaching of a better temporal life grew and developed, 
until the ushering in of the Christian era, and mankind 
heard the dual command which to-day is sounding on land 
and sea, in the palaces of the rich and the homes of the 
lowly; the command that stands out in characters of 
light in every fraternal secret society that has existence : 
' ' Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and 
with all thy soul and with all thy mind," and "Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 

These principles of brotherhood, as taught by our fra- 
ternal organizations, are most beautifully set forth by a 
celebrated writer — Cole, and he sums them up as follows : 

' ' First. When the necessities of a brother call for my 
aid and support, I will be ever ready to lend him such as- 
sistance, to save him from sinking, as may not be detri- 
mental to myself or connections, if I find him worthy 
thereof 

' ' Second. Indolence shall not cause my footsteps to halt, 
nor wrath turn them aside ; but forgetting every selfish con 
sideration, I will be ever swift of foot to serve, help and 
execute benevolence to a fellow creature in distress. 

' ' Third. When I offer up my ejaculations to Almighty 
God, a brother's welfare I will remember as my own ; for 
as the voices of babes and sucklings ascend to the Throne 
of Grace, so most assuredly will the breathings of a fervent 
heart arise to the mansions of bliss, as our prayers are 
certainly required of each other. 

' ' Fourth. A brother's secrets delivered to me as such, I 
will keep as I would my own ; as betraying that trust 
might be doing him the greatest injury he could sustain in 
this mortal life ; nay, it would be like the villainy of an as- 
sassin, who lurks in darkness to stab his adversary, when 
unarmed and least prepared to meet an enemy. 

"Fifth. A brother's character I will support in his 



12 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

absence as I would in his presence ; I will not wrongfully 
revile him myself, nor will I suffer it to be done by others, 
if in my power to prevent it." 

So we of the brotherhood, whether as Masons, as Odd 
Fellows, as Knights of Pythias, and all other kindred 
bodies, meet and worship at one common altar and adore 
the Creator of the Universe. In the light of His spirit of 
love we greet mankind as brothers, and pledge ourselves 
to one another's up-building. About the altars of the 
mystic brotherhood, in all ages ancl in all climes, we have 
found and seen a spirit of love that brings a feeling of kin- 
ship which drives out selfish pride and hate, and helps us 
to bear one another's burdens. 

Within our temple science has found a home, and from 
thence was knowledge sent that strengthened man for his 
labors here on earth, and lighted his pathway to the 
eternal beyond. From these sanctuaries, whether con- 
structed as they often were in mountain fastnesses, or 
in the groves, God's first temples, or on the open plain, 
with only the star-lit heavens overhead, have gone those 
teachings of a higher morality which have made men 
cleaner and purer in body and mind. To mankind these 
orders, societies, have been a light when all else was moral 
darkness ; have brought hope when despair had well-nigh 
possessed the soul ; have made men stronger for the strug- 
gles through which they have had to pass. 

Now, in view of the great good they have done in 
the past, of the good they are now doing throughout 
the civilized world, and of the much greater good that 
they may accomplish in this and the coming eras of 
increasing knowledge, we say to all fraternal and benev- 
olent societies of the present, and, if it were possible, to 
all of the future — all hail ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



13 



CHAPTER II. 




Sicily and the Grecian Period — Syracuse— The Home of Culture and 
Wealth — Political Condition of Syracuse — The Reign of Gelon — 
Syracuse as a Democracy — Dionysius, the Tyrant — How he came 
into Power— His Wars with the Carthaginians— Tyranny and 
Tyrants — Review of the Life of Dionysius. 

SOCIETY, or order, has its great 
ideals, or prototypes, in human life, 
in whose deeds they have found traits 
worthy of emulation. Before coming to 
the consideration of the life and charac- 
ter of the great prototypes of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias we should look 
into the history of the country that 
was their home, see the men who sur- 
rounded them, know something of the 
customs, the laws, the society by which they were 
environed. Men do not make themselves; their char- 
acters are their own by nature ; but these may be 
moulded and shaped for good or for evil — may be led 
into honorable lives or to dishonor, according to the 
surroundings. Here and there are men who have risen 
above the social influences that were brought to bear upon 
them, but these are the exceptions in man's history; 
and, as we shall see further on, Damon and Pythias were 
exceptions to the rule in their day. Not only do men aid 
in forming or shaping the characters of their fellow men, 
but this is also done by the natural surroundings of men. 
The sky, the rugged mountain peaks, the ocean in all its 
mighty power beating on the shore, the valley and plain, 
the river and lake, are all so many educators or fashioners 



14 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of the lives and characters of men. This has been true of 
all nations in all ages past ; it will be true to a greater or 
less degree in all time to come. So then let us view first 
the home of Damon and Pythias, and then the men and 
people with whom they were brought in contact in their 
every- day lives. 

Sicily is the largest and most beautiful island in the 
Mediterranean Sea ; an island of mountain and plain, full 
of all that is picturesque in nature, with charms peculiar to 
itself, so rich, so beautiful, so grand that they outshine the 
land whose beauties have been so much praised by poet, 
and so fully sketched by artist, the far-famed Italy. 

So bountifully was it provided by nature with herbage 
and flowers that the ancients claimed that the oxen of the 
Sun pastured in its rich fields. It was the home of the 
olive and grape. It was first occupied by the early shep- 
herds, who took possession of it, and finally erected for 
themselves permanent homes and built cities. Other peo- 
ples and nations, attracted by the climate and soil, gradu- 
ally found a home on its shores. The Cretans, the Trojans, 
the Phcenicans, all obtained a footing on the island, until 
it grew to be inhabited by strong and powerful tribes or 
separate nations. 

The Grecian period was the most renowned of all the 
annals of Sicily. The Greeks, with their learning and cul- 
ture in letters and science, in art and architecture, finding 
themselves hemmed in, and their powers abridged within 
their own boundaries, sought for themselves different fields 
and greater scope for their genius, and from their wander- 
ings found homes on different parts of the island and along 
the peninsula, and wherever they stopped they laid the 
foundations for cities and as many and different and sepa- 
rate states. Some Athenians, the earliest of the Grecian 
colonies, built Naxos 735 B. C. 

The Corinthians and Dorians in their travels came 
to and landed on the island of Ortygia, there finding 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE 1 5 

the Seculi, drove them out, took possession and laid out 
and commenced the building of the future home of Damon 
and Pythias, the city of Syracuse, B. C. 734. And so one 
after the other the native tribes were driven out and away 
from the shores and into the mountain fastnesses. 

Grecian art, science, and culture, every thing that had 
made Greece famous up to that period, and has ever kept 
her name high on the roll of fame, were transplanted to the 
different cities of Sicily. Magnificent temples were built, 
costly and elegant palaces were erected, and their ruins to- 
day attract the attention and admiration of the civilized 
world. These cities, and notably amongst them Syracuse, 
became the homes of the learned men of all countries. The 
painter found employment for his genius, the philosopher 
gathered about him the youth to learn wisdom ; poetry was 
encouraged, and literary contests brought together men of 
giant intellects ; the soldier was taught all the art of war, 
and the statesmen and jurist were received with marked 
respect and honor. A noble strife was engendered between 
the different cities, and Syracuse in all these battles of in- 
tellect and genius stood in the front rank. The great 
Grecian games were also carried into Sicily, and to witness 
them came fair women and brave men from all shores and 
nations. Great wealth and treasure had, through commerce 
and the home industries, accumulated in Syracuse; the 
supply of gold and silver and precious stones had flowed 
into the hands of her citizens until this great wealth was 
now tempting the cupidity of the other nations. 

Each of these cities was at first independent in its 
organization, and possessed a democratic form of govern- 
ment. With the increase and growth in the material 
wealth and strength of the land came finally discord and 
dissentions. Ambitious and unprincipled men sowed 
discord among the people, until internal strife broke 
out; and, through intrigue and deceit, men who sought 
their own advancement rather than the good of the people, 



l6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

succeeded in overthrowing the government ' ' of the people, 
by the people, and for the people," and in its stead estab- 
lished a monarchy and despotism. These in turn were 
borne by the people until forbearance ceased to be a 
virtue, and some leader of the people was found who, by 
his force of character, could and did control and lead the 
people until the despot was overthrown, and a democratic 
form of government would be again established. So on 
through the years and centuries Sicily was one of the 
world's great battle fields ; here was waged the struggle 
for right against wrong, the oppressed against the op- 
pressor, until the principle of honor and loyalty seemed to 
be lost ; and it was, as to the great mass of the people. 
Wars of the greatest magnitude had swept over the land of 
Sicily. The most powerful army that the Athenians could 
muster had been sent against Syracuse ; the Carthaginians 
invaded the city by land and by sea with immense fleets 
and armies, yet all these invaders were driven out and the 
city and kingdom maintained. Not only in defensive but 
in aggressive warfare were the Sicilian armies triumphant. 
Such was ancient Sicily prior to and including the period 
at which Damon and Pythias are brought to notice. 

Let us now take a more careful glance at Syracuse and 
the tyrant Dionysius, that we may the more fully under- 
stand the great underlying principles on which our Order is 
based. Syracuse, anciently the most famous and power- 
ful city of Sicily, situated on the south-eastern coast of the 
island, eighty miles southwest of Messina, was founded by 
a body of Corinthian settlers under Archias, one of the 
Bacchiadae, in the year 734 B. C. The original colonists 
at first occupied nothing more than the little isle of Ortygia, 
about one mile long and a half mile broad, which lies near 
the shore. This colony grew rapidly in population and 
strength, and was enabled to establish subcolonies of its 
own. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE \J 

Nothing is definitely known of the early political state 
of Syracuse ; but before 486 B. C. the political power had 
passed into the hands of a few leading families, or, as they 
might more properly be termed, clans, who constituted an 
oligarchy, while the greater part of the citizens formed a 
malcontent democracy. The oligarchic citizens or fami- 
lies, probably the descendants of the original founders of 
the city, were expelled, and the sovereign power was trans- 
ferred to the citizens at large, forming a democratic form of 
government. Before a year had passed, however, Gelon, 
despot of Gela, 480 B. C, had restored the exiles, and at 
the same time had made himself master of Syracuse. He 
was a great ruler, and under him the city increased in 
strength and great wealth. It was under the rule of Gelon 
that the city attained its greatest prosperity and renown. 
Although besieged by the immense army of the Cartha- 
ginians, the Syracusan army, under the command of Gelon, 
routed the invaders, and Gelon permitted the defeated and 
captured Carthaginians to return to their homes, fixing 
only two conditions in the terms of peace : that they should 
send him two vessels as a token of their gratitude, and 
the other that they should abolish the custom of sacri- 
ficing human beings to Neptune. ' ' This treaty of peace, ' ' 
says a celebrated writer, * ' was the noblest of any recorded 
in history. Gelon, after having defeated an army of three 
hundred thousand Carthaginians, imposes a condition useful 
to themselves and in behalf of humanity at large." The 
Syracusans showed their gratitude by raising Gelon to the 
supreme and sovereign power. He appeared before the 
council unarmed, his person invested in a cloak, in order, 
as he said, that any one might slay him who could truth- 
fully show that he had ever been false to a trust, or had 
done any injury to his country. 

Raised to the position of king by the voice of the 
people, he ruled in justice, and by his genius advanced all 
the material interests of the city. At his death he was 



1 8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

deified by the people whom he had served so faithfully 
and well. 

Although torn at times by factions and internal strife, 
Syracuse continued to increase in power and wealth to 
such an extent that a peaceful contest arose between her 
and the neighboring cities as to which should carry the 
arts and sciences to the highest state of perfection. The 
Syracusans outstripped all their rivals, and attained such 
strength that they were considering the subjugation of all 
Sicily. They were at this period attacked by an im- 
mense army of Athenians, but these were also van- 
quished, and again came another invasion by the Cartha- 
ginians. This brings us now to the period in her history 
of interest to the members of our Order. Her govern- 
ment had changed from time to time from a monarchy 
to a democratic form of government, and then again to 
a monarchy, and so from one to the other as it suited the 
will or caprice of the people or the intrigues of ambitious 
men. At the time Dionysius is brought to our notice 
Syracuse was a democracy. To understand the position 
in which our prototypes were situated as citizens of Syra- 
cuse, we should understand what a democratic government 
meant in that day. Under it all men enjoyed political 
rights, and were given the right of suffrage. With their 
universal suffrage every citizen had a part in the affairs of 
state; he helped to elect magistrates, became a law-maker, 
performed duty as jurist and juror; he had a voice in de- 
claring war, or making terms of peace. Although there 
were great numbers and classes of officials, there was always 
a distinction kept between the civil power and the military, 
so that there should be no danger, as was supposed, of 
having the civil government overthrown by the military. 

Of the civil powers there were, first, the magistrates, 
elected by the votes of the people for a term of one year. 
To be elected a magistrate secured for that official the 
utmost respect of the people, for the reason that having 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 9 

by their votes elected him he was considered a part of 
themselves, and to despise him was to despise themselves. 
Suffrage was one of the most sacred sources of authority. 
Higher than the magistrates, whose duty it was to 
administer and enforce the laws, was the senate. This 
was a deliberative body, a council of state ; it made 
no laws, repealed no laws, exercised no sovereignty. 
This body was composed of a certain number from each 
tribe or class, who performed their sacred duties in rota- 
tion, and deliberated all the year round upon the religious 
and political interests of the city. 

Above the senate was the assembly of the people. 
Here was the real, controlling power, the sovereignty. 
The conventions of the assembly were always held in some 
sacred enclosure. The people were seated on stone benches. 
An altar stood near the speaker's stand, and the stand itself 
was considered as sacred as an altar. Religious rites were 
performed and prayers were offered. This was one of the 
prayers always to be offered : ' ' We invoke the gods that 
they may protect the city. May the advice of the wisest 
prevail. Cursed be he who shall give us bad counsel ; who 
shall attempt to change the decrees and the law, or who 
shall reveal our secrets to the enemy." 

Then a herald, under instruction of the president, an- 
nounced the subject for which the assembly had been con- 
vened. Before this meeting had been convened, the 
subject had been discussed and considered by the senate. 
It was the duty of the senate to formulate the laws or 
decrees, and submit them to the assembly, and no other 
question or law could be taken up or discussed save that 
for which the assembly was called, and the act or statute 
presented could be adopted or rejected. By the procla- 
mation of the herald an opportunity was given for those 
who wished, to speak. They prized their orators, and 
always gave them attention, yet all good citizens were 
privileged to speak. It is said that there was a law 



20 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

that punished every orator who was convicted of having 
given bad advice to the people, and any speaker who 
had three times advised resolutions contrary to exist- 
ing laws was forbidden to speak. These people realized 
fully that a strict observance of the law was their only 
safety. It was required that all propositions for changing 
the laws must first be presented to the senate, where, 
after due consideration, they were rejected or approved. 
If rejected, that was the end of it ; but if the proposed 
measure was approved by a vote of their body, then the 
senate convened the assembly, where it was discussed, 
and submitted for action to a commission selected by the 
assembly; if this commission rejected it, their decision 
was final ; if, however, they approved it, then the assem- 
bly was reconvened, the measure voted on, and could 
there be rejected or, by their votes, become a law. Every 
man was made personally responsible for his vote, and 
no one was permitted to evade the consequences of his 
acts. 

We have dwelt thus long on the democracy of the days 
of Damon and Pythias that it might be the more fully 
understood how heinous the offense that was committed by 
Dionysius and his co-conspirators appeared in the eyes 
of Damon, the senator, and it was his loyalty to his city 
and nation that brought upon him the condemnation of 
the tyrant, and brought to his side the courageous and 
steadfast friend, the soldier and valiant Knight, Pythias. 

Just at the time when this democratic form of govern- 
ment was the strongest, the island of Sicily was again 
overrun with the Carthaginians, and Dionysius appeared on 
the stage of action, and here we take up a sketch of his 
life. 

Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse, was born 
430 or 43 1 B. C. He was originally a clerk in a public 
office, but manifested at an early age a passion for political 
and military distinction. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 21 

When the Argentines, after the conquest of their city 
by the Carthaginians, accused the Syracusan generals, who 
had failed to relieve them, of treachery, Dionysius sup- 
ported their accusations before the people of Syracuse, 
and induced the latter to appoint new commanders for the 
army, and so contrived that he himself was selected as one of 
the number. In a short time he supplanted his colleagues 
also, and, when only twenty-five years of age, made him- 
self, by the help of his mercenaries, absolute ruler of the 
city. To strengthen his tyranny he married the daughter 
of Hermocrates, the late head of the aristocratic party in 
Syracuse, and thus attached the followers of that leader 
to himself. 

After he had fiercely suppressed several insurrections 
against himself and his tyrannous government, and had 
conquered some of the Greek towns of Sicily, he made 
great preparations for a war against the Carthaginians. 
This war began in the year 397 B. C. 

At first fortune favored Dionysius, but after a short 
period he suffered a series of reverses so calamitous that 
the greater portion of his allies abandoned him, and he 
was shut up in the city of Syracuse, apparently without 
any hope of release or escape. 

During this siege the better class of the people of 
Syracuse, who had been robbed of their property, and had 
suffered in divers ways by and through the tyrant Dionys- 
ius, and now once more having arms in their hands for the 
common defense of their city, and believing that the time 
had come to throw off the yoke of the tyrant, began 
openly to proclaim their discontent. In order to quiet 
this threatened outbreak, and not daring to attempt to 
suppress it by arms, Dionysius convened a public assem- 
bly. At or near the close of the assembly, the historian 
tells us that one Theodorus, a Horseman, or Knight, a per- 
son of wealth and station, of high character and well known 
reputation for courage, rose and addressed the assembly. 



22 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

His arraignment of Dionysius furnishes in a short space 
the most complete review of the life and character of that 
ruler, and we give here the conclusion of the address. 
Having reviewed at length the career of the tyrant, he 
appeals to the Syracusans : 

"Dionysius [he said] is a worse enemy than the Car- 
thaginians, who, if victorious, would be satisfied with a 
regular tribute, leaving us to enjoy our properties and our 
paternal polity. Dionysius has robbed us of both. He 
has pillaged our temples of their sacred deposits. He has 
slain or banished our wealthy citizens, and then seized 
their properties by wholesale, to be transferred to his sat- 
ellites. He has given the wives of these exiles in marriage 
to his barbarian soldiers. He has liberated our slaves, and 
taken them into his pay in order to keep their masters in 
slavery; has garrisoned our city against us by means of 
these slaves, together with a host of other mercenaries. 
He has put to death every citizen who ventured to raise 
his voice in defense of the laws and constitution. He has 
abused our confidence — once, unfortunately, carried so far 
as to nominate him general — by employing his powers to 
subvert our freedom, and rule us according to his self- 
ish rapacity, in place of justice. He has further stripped 
us of our arms ; these, recent necessity compelled him to 
restore, and these, if we are men, we shall now employ 
for the recovery of our freedom." 

He then reviews the war in which they were engaged, 
and charges Dionysius with disgraceful incompetence, and 
concludes: 

" Let us look for another leader, in place of a sacreli- 
gious temple-robber whom the gods have now abandoned. 
If Dionysius will consent to relinquish his dominion, let 
him retire from the city with his property unmolested; 
if he will not, we are here assembled, we are possessed of 
our arms, and we have both Italian and Peloponnesian 
allies by our side. The assembly will decide whether it 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 23 

will choose leaders from our own citizens, or from our 
metropolis, Corinth, or from the Spartans, the presidents 
of all Greece." 

As bitter and as fierce as had been the denunciation, 
and although the native Syracusans were ready, if aided, 
to answer the call of the orator, yet they were doomed to 
disappointment, for the allies on which they had reckoned 
took sides with Dionysius, and he held his position. Just 
at this juncture, too, the fortunes of war turned to his 
advantage. 

When he had well-nigh despaired of saving the city 
from capture by the Carthaginian army and navy, that was 
then almost surrounding it by land and sea, and it seemed 
as though there was to be no possible escape for himself, 
either from the enemy on the outside, or the wrath of the 
Syracusans within, a terrible pestilence broke out in the 
Carthaginian army and fleet. This epidemic the tyrant 
was quick to perceive could be turned to his advantage 
every way. The people of that day were superstitious. 
Their gods were many and their temples were sacred, and 
iconoclasm in their minds was sure to meet the vengeance 
of the outraged gods. Imilkon, the Carthaginian general, 
had pillaged the temples of two of their gods, and so 
Dionysius appealed to the piety of the citizens of Syracuse, 
and interpreted the pestilence now ravaging the ranks of 
their enemies as the avenging wrath of the gods, because 
of the desecration of the temples, and thus incited them 
once more to rally around his standards by claiming that 
the gods, by thus avenging the affront to them, would 
further avenge it by helping him to utterly destroy their 
enemy and the enemy of their gods. 

Dionysius was also quick to see that the pestilence was 
to be to him a greater ally than all of the allies who had 
abandoned him could possibly have been had they re- 
mained with him, and the pestilence had not broken out in 
the camps and ships of the besieging hosts. He saw in 



24 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

this calamity to his enemies an opportunity for the success 
of his arms, and he immediately attacked the foe by land 
and by sea in such sudden and fierce manner that he not 
only raised the siege, but almost utterly destroyed the 
Carthaginian army. 

But even in this victory he displayed his utter baseness 
and bloodthirsty spirit, for he so planned that the citizens 
of Syracuse, who had desired his removal, should be 
destroyed, although they were in the line and engaged 
with the army in action, and he so arranged that in the 
midst of the battle on a certain portion of the line his 
mercenaries should suddenly abandon the field, and thus 
their comrades, being deserted, would be cut to pieces by 
the Carthaginians. This plan was fully carried out, and 
the men who had helped to save Syracuse, and the life of 
the tyrant himself, were ruthlessly slain. 

So great a success over the enemies of Syracuse once 
more fully established Dionysius in his place as ruler, and 
put down all the opposition that had been manifested 
against him during the siege. 

Twice after this the Carthagenians renewed their hos- 
tilities against Syracuse, but both times they were sorely 
defeated, and Dionysius was enabled to conclude a most 
advantageous peace both for himself and his people. 

Dionysius now turned his arms against Lower Italy, 
and although stoutly resisted on all sides, his armies, under 
his leadership, met with ultimate success in whatever direc- 
tion they turned their faces. He stood as the greatest 
military chieftain of his age, having under his command 
larger and more thoroughly equipped armies than had ever 
before been brought together, the number of his soldiers 
running up into the hundreds of thousands, while his fleets 
swept the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. 

Toward the close of his life, however, he met with 
some reverses in his military career, but none that seriously 
weakened or impaired his power. His was a peculiar talent, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



25 



strong in intellect, and possessed of wonderful power and 
ability to quickly perceive those peculiarly fortunate oppor- 
tunities that rarely come to a man twice in his life-time, he 
grasped and held everything that would in the least indi- 
cate the smile of fortune, and wrested from it wealth and 
power and fame. That he was cruel in the highest degree 
cannot be denied ; that his was an ambition for the most 
part unholy and selfish in the extreme is undoubtedly true ; 
yet that there were many circumstances to make him the 
man he became is equally true ; and that he had some good 
in him is abundantly proven. Now let us briefly consider 
what his surroundings were, what he accomplished for 
Syracuse, and also notice his achievements in time of 
peace. 

We, as members of the Order of Knights of Pythias, hear 
much said of the tyrant Dionysius, and, from what is oft re- 
peated, despise him in our love for our prototypes, Damon 
and Pythias. Yet from what may be learned of him he 
was a most extraordinary man, and we may look to his 
surroundings somewhat, and then perhaps judge him less 
harshly because of his kindness to the two friends whom 
he had so thoroughly tested, doubting that there was any 
true and firm friendship in the face of death, and for whom 
after the test he had so much admiration. 

To judge of tyranny or tyrants in the time of ancient 
Syracuse, let us first ascertain, if possible, what was under- 
stood by the name tyrant, or term tyranny, by the Syra- 
cusans. In every city then, as now, two great forces exist- 
ed, always to a greater or less degree enemies to each other, 
and both striving for the mastery — the rich and the poor. 

At that time there was no opportunity for the poor to 
better their condition except by despoiling the rich. The 
rich were put upon the defensive at all times in order to 
protect and preserve their property. The democracy were 
the rich and powerful. They were the men who bore 
arms, or had the right to bear arms as soldiers. Whenever 



26 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

there was a civil war it was of that cruel and relentless kind 
that comes from cupidity on the part of the poor on one 
side, and from the hatred of the poor by the rich on the 
other. 

Aristotle says the rich took this oath among them- 
selves : "I swear always to remain the enemy of the 
people, and to do them all the injury in my power." 

The rich were the cultivated and enlightened classes. 
They understood and appreciated the value of a democratic 
form of government, such as has been before described ; 
they felt the necessity of preserving such a form of govern- 
ment, and thus holding their property free from a tyranny 
which meant the right of the tyrant to despoil them, in 
order to distribute to the poor, and thereby enable him to 
gain and hold them for his defense. 

The poor, in their struggles for life, seeing the out- 
ward pleasure and display of the rich, thoughtless of their 
few political rights, and desiring rather their own aggran- 
dizement, were ever ready to join together under some one 
who had shown his power and ability as a leader, and 
overthrow the democracy, establish a monarchy, and place 
the power in the hands of a tyrant, who would be willing 
to divide the wealth of the land in order to hold his place. 

Says one of our historians, in writing of that time, 
" Liberty signified the government where the rich had the 
rule, and defended their fortunes; tyranny indicated ex- 
actly the contrary." So the tyrant was he who was the 
choice of the people, the populace. 

Says Aristotle, "The mission of the tyrant is to pro- 
tect the people against the rich ; he has always commenced 
by being the demagogue, and it is the essence of tyranny to 
oppose the aristocracy. The means of arriving at a tyran- 
ny is to gain the confidence of the multitude, and one does 
this by declaring himself the enemy of the rich. This was 
the course of Piesistratus at Athens, of Theagenes at Me- 
gara, and of Dionysius at Syracuse." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



27 



The historian Grote most graphically describes Dionys- 
ius in his harangue before the assembly after the fall of 
Agrigentum, as he denounced the Syracusan generals. He 
set himself in defiance of the magistrates, and by them was 
fined for disorder, but this was paid by his supporters. He 
denounced not only the generals, but also the conspicuous 
and wealthy citizens generally, "as oligarchs who held 
tyrannical sway." "Syracuse [he contended] could not be 
saved, unless men of a totally different character were in- 
vested with authority ; men not chosen from wealth and 
station, but of humble birth, belonging to the people by 
position." Demagogism was as great in that day as at 
the present time. 

Raised to power by this worst element of society, in a 
time when there was but little of moral teaching, and the 
passions of men were easily inflamed, the tyrant was in the 
power of the mob. The force that made him tyrant did it 
to gratify their desire for the property of others, and he knew 
that from time to time, as their greed demanded it, he must 
despoil the rich to minister to the demands of the baser 
portion of his subjects, or his power would depart from 
him forever. The life of men weighed for naught as 
against the desire to maintain power. The power of 
the tyrant was circumscribed by no law that he was 
bound to respect. The subject had no rights which 
might conflict with the tyrant's desire or ambition. He 
knew, also, that in the midst of his power he was not 
safe from the hand of the avenger, nor free from the 
knife of the assassin. The friend of to-day was one who 
to-morrow would shout ' ' The king is dead, long live the 
king, " as a new tyrant would take his place. Flattery was 
one of the corner-stones on which the tyrant of Syracuse 
must build his throne, and that was flattery of the worst 
elements of the city. Such was the state of society, or 
government, in that day, that when the tyrant came in, all 
safety for individual men went out ; ownership in property 



28 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

existed only till the tyrant saw fit to take it ; there was no 
way whereby the citizen could protect himself from his 
caprice or cruelty; he held the life, the property, every 
thing there was of the citizen, in his grasp. 

Such, briefly stated, was the tyrant ; and such the tyr- 
anny of Dionysius, in the days of Damon and Pythias. 
Aside from the question of his life as a tyrant, what can 
be said ? No man of his time had a greater diversity of 
power. He was a statesman of no mean ability. He was 
the greatest warrior and soldier of his age. While he 
was cruel in his treatment of his subjects at times, as all 
tyrants were, yet he had much in his nature that was 
princely and generous. While he was ambitious to be 
considered the greatest ruler of all in that day, he was not 
content with his reputation as a statesman or a soldier. 
He turned his attention to literary pursuits. While he 
pandered to the mob on one hand, on the other he 
gathered about himself the learned, the students, the 
poets, and the philosophers of his period from all the 
Grecian cities. Plato was said to have been his guest, 
brought to his court by special invitation. He studied, he 
wrote, until finally he entered the lists as a contestant for 
literary and poetic honors. He strove for the honors, and 
for the prize in the Olympic games, and in the year 388 
B. C. he sent his literary productions to Athens, the most 
renowned city of the enlightened world, and with them 
an influential embassy to press his claims. Although 
he failed in this first effort, he did not retire from 
the literary arena; but, in the intervals between the 
numerous wars, prosecuted his studies, and by all the aids 
he could bring to his assistance kept alive the desire to 
win the highest honors in the world of letters, and, on sev- 
eral occasions, in spite of the bitter prejudice that existed 
against him, carried off the second and third prizes for 
tragedy. 

The wars with his old Carthaginian enemies were kept up 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 2g 

with varying success until about the year 383 or 382 B. C, 
when the fortunes of Dionysius left him, and he was most 
signally defeated by the Carthaginians, and in one day he 
was reduced from the position of one who dictates terms 
of peace to that of one who is willing to accept any terms, 
so that life is spared. He then for a number of years re- 
mained in quiet. During this period of quietude we only 
know of him as a student gathering about him men of 
letters, and still further engaged in building walls of pro- 
tection and defense about the city of Syracuse, and in 
beautifying the city. About the year 370 B. C. he had 
sufficiently recovered from the disaster of his defeat, and 
again found a pretext for war upon the Carthaginian 
provinces in Sicily, and sought to expel them, the Cartha- 
ginians, entirely from Sicily. After he had made a de- 
mand upon them for a complete evacuation of Sicilian ter- 
ritory, which they refused, or rather received and treated 
the demand with silent contempt, he gave battle and 
succeeded in part in recovering the territory that had 
been held by the Carthaginians. It was while engaged in 
this campaign, which proved to be his last, that he received 
the intelligence that he had been successful in the contest 
he had been so long waging in the field of letters. He 
had been awarded first honors for one of his tragedies at 
the Lenaean festival of Athens. Long had he been the 
first military hero until forced into a temporary retirement, 
which had evidently been to him "a blessing in disguise," 
for now, when his military star was again in the ascendant, 
his fondest hopes were fully realized, and he was now to 
wear the laurel for a victory that was won without being 
stained by the blood of his fellow man. But while he had 
been able to wear the soldier's wreath of victory with dig- 
nity, and without dissipation or undue manifestations of 
joy, the news of his peaceful victory at Athens led him 
into great excess of feasting and drinking. Sacrifices and 



30 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

thank-offerings were offered to the gods, and great was the 
revelry, and, it might be said, debauch. 

From this dissipation he never recovered, as a fever set 
in, and in a short time he died, before he had accomplished 
his purpose of expelling the Carthaginians. It was believed 
by many that his death was brought about by his physi- 
cians, through the instigation of his son, thus furnishing 
another illustration of the instability and uncertainty of 
the power of a tyrant. For thirty-eight years he had held 
Sicily in his grasp, proof against all the combinations that 
had been formed by his countrymen for his overthrow and 
the release of the land from his bloody hand and the more 
cruel outrages of the mercenary hordes by which he was 
enabled to hold his people. For thirty-eight years after 
Damon and Pythias had refused his friendship, he had 
lived with only such friends, so called, as could be pur- 
chased by the wealth that had been filched from honest 
citizens to be bestowed upon those who were his willing 
tools in crime. He was a most vigorous ruler in every re- 
spect ; he built up the material wealth of the cities of Sicily 
over which he ruled by despoiling others. He was am- 
bitious, and was estopped by no conscientious convictions 
of right or wrong in the pursuit of any object that might 
serve his purposes, or secure the ends he sought. While 
he beautified and adorned Syracuse, he did it over the 
ruined homes, and by the banishment, plundering, and 
slaying of her best citizens to gratify his own ambition. 
Soldier he was, but hero he was not, for the soldier hero is 
one who is courageous and daring as was Dionysius, but in 
victory he is magnanimous and kind to the vanquished. 
Dionysius was cruel and bloodthirsty, therefore he should 
be classed as the enemy of good government and humanity. 
He was strong in mind and of brilliant intellect, as his lit- 
erary victories show ; but, like Lady Macbeth, he could 
never rid his mind and vision of the blood spot, and in the 
last years of his life he was continually tormented with the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



31 



belief that he was shadowed by those who were seeking 
his life to avenge the death of the many whom he had 
slain. To-day his literary and peaceful victories are over- 
shadowed by the record he made as an enemy of mankind ; 
his skill and renown as chieftain is tarnished by the pages 
of bloody history he made, which showed that he was 
devoid of the high and noble qualities of a true soldier. 
The great mass of history he made is a blot on the world's 
pages. 

It will now be pleasant to turn away from the brief re- 
view of this man's life, which was a life devoid of the sun- 
shine of friendship, and take up the lives of the two men 
who stand to-day as exemplars of all that is brave, and 
loyal, and true ; true to their country, true to one another, 
and true to the noble and unselfish part of humanity. How 
great a difference there was between the life of Dionysius, 
the tyrant, and those of the noble senator of Syracuse, 
Damon, and the true soldier, the tried and faithful friend, 
Pythias, is best shown in the drama which was made the 
foundation for the ritual and tenets of our Order, for it was 
from this that the inspiration was drawn which produced 
the ritual. However, before producing the drama let us 
understand and know something of these two characters. 
This we will do in the next chapter — the historic Damon 
and Pythias. 




32 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD, 




CHAPTER III. 

THE HISTORIC DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 

p THE story of Damon and Pythias a fabrication, 
as some have claimed, or were they actual 
characters in the world's great drama? The 
characters borne by them, or rather given to 
them, in the popular drama which bears their 
names, have been looked upon by many as the 
fruit of the vivid imagination of the author, and we find 
more than one Dionysius who is not willing to admit that 
such friendship, such fidelity and loyalty could be shown 
by one human being to another. That the two men, 
Damon and Pythias, did live, that they were the steadfast 
friends that they are represented to have been, cannot be 
doubted in the light of history. 

An earnest Pythian of modern days, one who has 
achieved the highest honors that can be conferred upon 
him in his own Grand Jurisdiction, has gone most thoroughly 
into the study of ancient literature and history to settle the 
disputed question, desiring to give to the Order the very 
best authenticated history of the prototypes of Pythian 
Knighthood. This honorable and scholarly Knight has 
furnished the result of his investigations for publication in 
this work, and we are glad to give these researches to the 
world through the medium of this book, not alone for its 
historical worth, but to show to men of literary and scho- 
lastic attainments the class of men, intellectual men, that are 
now taking an interest in the Order of Knights of Pythias, 
and we therefore produce these translations from the old 
authors and historians, as a part of our Pythian literature. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 33 

The author of these translations is the Hon. Charles 
Cowley, LL. D., of Lowell, Massachusetts. Brother Cow- 
ley has risen to high rank in his profession, that of attorney 
and jurist, in his state. He stands among the best writers 
in a state that is renowned for the eminence of its authors ; 
for scholarly attainments, and for thorough knowledge 
of the classics, he is esteemed as the peer of the brightest. 

The Vox Populi, whose editor has often spoken with 
fine felicity on Pythian occasions, says : ' ' The Knights of 
Pythias, and all persons of scholarly tastes, owe a debt of 
gratitude to Charles Cowley, LL. D., of Lowell, for his 
exhaustive researches among the literary remains of 
Grecian and Roman civilization, which have enabled him 
to present to them all the Greek and Latin versions of 
the beautiful story of Damon and Pythias which have sur- 
vived the ravages of time." 

The well-known author, Rev. Elias Nason, D. D., says: 
"As Edward Everett traced to its' origin the rabbinical 
story of Abraham and the strangers, so has Judge Cowley 
quite as well explored to its remotest sources the classical 
story of these pattern friends." 

In Pythian matters he has taken a very deep interest, 
and is now one of the Past Grand Chancellors of Massachu- 
setts, honored, respected, and loved by all who know him. 

And now we give what he has to say of the ancient 
versions of the story of Damon and Pythias : 

Knights of Pythias, and all persons of scholarly tastes, are pre- 
sumably interested to know the results which the researches of 
many years have yielded, touching the story of Damon and 
Pythias. Five versions of this beautiful story are extant, which 
were written within a thousand years after the episode which 
they commemorate; three of these are found among the re- 
mains of ancient Greek literature, and two among the remains 
of the ancient Latin literature. Some of them have been re- 
peatedly published in English translations ; others of them have 
never appeared in our language before. 



34 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

There were, unquestionably, earlier writers whose works 
have perished, by whom this story was handed down. There 
was certainly one writer, and very probably another, who lived 
when this episode occurred, and whose works, though lost to us, 
were extant for ages, and are known to have been read by some 
of the later authors whose versions are herewith presented. 

Aristoxenus, the earliest writer who is known to have recorded 
this story, lived at Corinth, in the fourth century before Christ, 
contemporaneously with Damon and Pythias, and obtained his 
information directly from Dionysius the Younger, who, after 
his second expulsion from Syracuse, lived at Corinth, supporting 
himself by teaching. Philistus, the historian of Syracuse, proba- 
bly mentioned this episode in his history. He, like Aristoxenus, 
was a contemporary of Dionysius, and the pair of pattern 
friends; but his writings, like those of Aristoxenus, have been 
lost for a thousand years. 

The oldest version now extant is that of Cicero, who lived 
about three hundred years after Damon and Pythias, during the 
first century before Christ. His version is as follows : 

' ' Damon and Pythias, two of the followers of Pythagoras, 
were so closely attached to each other that when Dionysius, the 
tyrant, ordered one of them to be put to death on a certain day, 
and the party condemned begged for a respite of a few days, so 
that he might go home to attend to his own before he should 
die, the other voluntarily became his substitute, to die in his 
place if he did not appear. At the time appointed the con- 
demned returned to meet his fate. Thereupon the tyrant was 
so much amazed at their extraordinary fidelity that he sought to 
be admitted as a third in their friendship." — Cicero, De Offkiis, 
Book 111., Chap. 10. 

On another occasion, referring to this episode by way of 
illustration, Cicero writes substantially as follows : 

1 ' How low was the estimate which Dionysius put upon those 
friendships which he feared would fail, he shows by what he says 
of those two disciples of Pythagoras, Damon and Pythias ; for, 
when he had accepted one of them as a substitute for the other 
who was doomed to die, and when the other, to redeem his 
surety's life, had promptly returned at the hour appointed for his 
execution, Dionysius said to them, ' Would that I could be en- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



35 



rolled as your third friend.' How unhappy was Dionysius' lot, 
to be thus deprived of the communion of friends, the social in- 
tercourse and familiar converse of daily life. " — Cicero, Tusculan 
Disputations, Book K, Chap. 22. 

The second oldest version now extant is that of Diodorus Sicu- 
lus, who wrote his history a little after the time of Cicero and a 
little before the time of Christ, and who, like Cicero, probably 
read the works of Aristoxenus, and certainly read the works 
of Philistus. His version of this Damo-Pythian episode is as 
follows : 

"Phintias, a certain Pythagorean, having conspired against 
the tyrant, and being about to suffer the penalty, besought from 
Dionysius previous opportunity to arrange his private affairs as he 
desired, and he said that he would give one of his friends as 
surety for himself. As the despot wondered whether there was 
such a friend, who would put himself in the bastile in his stead, 
Phintias called a certain one of his companions, Damon by name, 
a Pythagorean philosopher, who, nothing doubting, immediately 
became substitute for Phintias. Thereupon some commended 
the extravagant regard existing between these friends, while 
others, indeed, condemned the rashness and folly of the substitute. 

' ' Now, at the appointed time, all the people assembled, eager 
to see whether he who had made this recognizance would keep 
his pledge. Indeed, the hour was already drawing to a close, 
and all had given up Damon in despair, when Phintias, having 
-accomplished his purpose, came running at full speed, at the 
jturn of the critical moment, just as Damon was being led away 
ko execution. At this manifestation of most remarkable friend- 
ship, Dionysius revoked the sentence, pardoned all concerned, 
and called on the men, Damon and Phintias, to receive himself 
as a third into their friendship." — Diodorus, Book X., Chap. 4. 

This history, which filled forty books and embodied the labor 
of thirty years, was written in Greek, and much of it has been 
lost. 

The third oldest version now extant is that of Valerius Maxi- 
mus, who lived contemporaneously with Diodorus, and wrote 
very soon after him. He wrote in Latin, as did Cicero; though, 
like Cicero, he was familiar with the Greek. His account is this : 

' ' Damon and Pythias, having been initiated into the sacred 



36 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

rites of the Pythagorean society, were united together by such 
strong friendship, that when Dionysius, the Syracusan, purposed 
to kill one of them, and he had obtained from him a respite, by 
which, before he should die, he might return home and arrange 
his affairs, the other did not hesitate to become surety for his re- 
turn to the tyrant. He who was free from danger of death, in 
this way submitted his neck to the sword ; he who was allowed to 
live in security risked his head for his friend. Thereupon all, and 
especially Dionysius, watched the result of this new and uncer- 
tain affair. When the appointed day approached, and he did not 
return, every one condemned the rash surety for his folly ; but he 
declared that for himself he did not at all doubt the constancy of 
his friend. However, at this moment, even at the hour deter- 
mined by Dionysius, he who had received the respite returned. 

' ' The tyrant, admiring the disposition of both, remitted the 
punishment of the friend; and, moreover, he requested that they 
would receive him into their society of friendship as the third 
member of the brotherhood, as the greatest kindness and honor. 
Such friendship indeed begets contempt for death, is able to break 
the charm of life, to make the savage gentle, to repay punish- 
ment with kindness and to transform hatred into love. It merits 
almost as much reverence as the sacred rites of the immortal 
gods; for while these preserve public safety, that conserves pri- 
vate good ; and as sacred temples are the places of religious rites, 
so the faithful hearts of such men are like temples filled by a 
special divine influence." — Valerius Maximus, Liber IV., Chap. 
7, Ext. i. 

The fourth oldest version now extant is that of Porphyry, who 
flourished during the latter part of the third century after Christ, 
and who avowedly follows the version of Aristoxenus, as quoted 
by Nicomachus, a Pythagorean, of Gerasa, who wrote during the 
reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Porphyry's version is in Greek, 
and no English translation of it has ever before been published. 
It is as follows : 

' ' Pity and tears, and all such, these men, Damon and Phin- 
tias [or Pythias], excite; this certainly is admitted. Now this is 
the account, as well of the flattery and of the entreaty and of the 
prayer, as of all such as these. When, on a certain occasion, 
some having said that when the Pythagoreans were apprehended, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



37 



they did not stand to their pledge to one another, Dionysius, 
wishing to make trial of them, thus arranged : Phintias was seized 
and brought before the tyrant; then accused that he had con- 
spired against him ; indeed, he was convicted of this, and it was 
determined to put him to death. Then he [Phintias] spake, that 
since it had thus happened to him, at least the rest of the day 
should be given to him in order that he might arrange his own 
private affairs, and also those of Damon, who was a companion 
and copartner with himself, and he, being the elder, much of 
what concerned the management of their business was referred 
to him. When asked that a substitute be furnished, he offered 
Damon; and Dionysius, having consented to this, sent for Da- 
mon, who, having heard what had happened, became surety, and 
remained until Phintias should return. Then, indeed, Dionysius 
was astonished at these results. But they who from the begin- 
ning had prosecuted the trial jeered Damon as having been en- 
trapped. Yet, when it was about the setting of the sun, Phintias 
came back to be put to death. At this all were astonished. Then 
Dionysius, having embraced and kissed the friends, requested 
them to receive him as a third into their friendship ; but, although 
he very earnestly besought it, they would by no means agree to 
such request. This much, indeed, Aristoxenus declared that he 
had heard from Dionysius himself [meaning Dionysius the 
Younger]." — Porphyry, "Life of Pythagoras -." 

Porphyry adds that Hippobotus and Neanthus relate this story 
of Mylius and Timychia; but the story related of Mylius and 
Timychia is essentially different from this. 

The fifth oldest version now extant is that of Iamblichus, a 
pupil of Porphyry, who also wrote a life of Pythagoras in Greek, 
containing many matters from preceding authors whose works 
are lost. Imablichus lived as late as the reign of Julian the 
Apostate, and he derives his version avowedly directly from 
Aristoxenus ; it is as follows : 

" When Dionysius, having been expelled from his tyranny, 
came to Corinth, he often entertained us with the particulars 
touching the Pythagoreans, Phintias and Damon, and the cir- 
cumstances under which one became surety for the other in a case 
of death. He said that some of those who were familiar with 
him frequently misrepresented the Pythagoreans, defaming and 



38 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

reviling them, stigmatizing them as impostors, and saying that 
their temperance, their gravity, and their confidence in one 
another were assumed, and that this would become apparent if 
any one should place them in distress or surround them with 
disaster. Others denied this, and contention arising on the 
subject, recourse was had to artifice. 

' ' One of the prosecutors accused Phintias to his face of having 
conspired with others against the life of Dionysius, and this was 
testified to by those present, and was made to appear exceedingly 
probable. Phintias was astonished at the accusation. But when 
Dionysius declared, unequivocally, that he had carefully investi- 
gated the affair, and that Phintias should die, Phintias replied, 
that since it had befallen him to be thus accused, he desired that 
at least the rest of the day might be allowed to him, so that he 
might arrange his own affairs, and also those of Damon; for 
these men collected the vintage from all around into wine-cellars, 
and disposed of it in common; and Phintias, being the elder, had 
assumed for the most part the management of their domestic 
concerns. He therefore requested the tyrant to allow him to 
depart for this purpose, and named Damon as his surety. Dionys- 
ius was surprised at this request, and asked whether there was 
such a man who would risk death by becoming surety for another. 
So Phintias requested him to send for Damon, who, on hearing 
what had taken place, said he would become sponsor for Phintias, 
and that he would remain there till Phintias returned. Dionys- 
ius was deeply impressed by these results ; but those who intro- 
duced the experiment derided Damon as having been left in the 
lurch, and mocking him, said that he would be devoted as a stag 
to sacrifice. But when it was already about sundown, Phintias 
came back to be put to death, at which all that were present were 
astonished and overpowered. Wherefore, Dionysius, having em- 
braced and kissed the friends, requested that they would receive 
him as a third into their friendship ; but they would by no means 
consent to such a thing, although he earnestly besought it. Now, 
indeed, Aristoxenus relates these things as having learned them 
from Dionysius himself." — Iamblichus, Life of Pythagoras, § 223. 

In connection with the versions of these writers, it is proper 
to add that Plutarch, who flourished in the first century of our 
era, refers to Damon and Pythias in his "Morals." The refer- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



39 



ence is in his tract "On the Folly of Seeking Many Friends," 
where he asks, ' ' What report does the record of antiquity make 
concerning true friends ? They are always recorded in pairs : as 
Theseus and Pirithous, Achilles and Patroclus, Orestes and 
Pylades, Phintias and Damon, Epaminodas and Pelopidas. 
Friendship is a creature sociable, including one's self and a com- 
panion; showing that two is the adequate and complete measure 
of friendship. " — Goodwin's Plutarch's Morals, Vol. I., p. 465. 

It will be observed that certain alterations and additions have 
been made to this story, as successive versions of it have ap- 
peared. The translators of the Greek and Latin versions have 
also embellished (or rather disfigured) it with other additions de- 
rived from their own imagination. 

Thus, Dr. Cockman, in his translation of Cicero's "Offices," 
represents Phintias as desiring time ' ' wherein he might provide 
for his children," but the original text, ' '•' commendandorum suorum 
causa postulavisset" scarcely warrants the inference that Phintias 
ever had a wife or children; and, perhaps, the fact, mentioned 
by Iamblichus, that Damon and Pythias carried on business as 
copartners, may warrant the inference that they were bachelors. 

Again, Thomas Taylor, the new Platonist, in his translation 
of Iamblichus' version of this Damo-Pythian episode, says that 
Damon and Pythias ' ' lived together and had all things in com- 
mon." But the Greek text of Iamblichus contains nothing which 
indicates that they "had all things in common." They were not 
socialists, although, with the help of their slaves, they carried on 
business as wine merchants, and perhaps kept bachelor's hall 
together. 

Dramatists and other poets, like Edwards, Chettle, Barnes, 
Banim, Lessing, Schiller, and Bates, and historical romance writers 
like Soave, may represent one of these immortal friends as a sena- 
tor, the other as a knight, and may surround them with fathers, 
mothers, brothers, sons, sisters, sweethearts, wives, and daughters. 
Poetic license permits this. But with history it is not so. While 
the historian is bound to tell all that he knows, he is equally 
bound not to tell any more than he knows ; and the foregoing 
fragments contain all that we know of this pair of pattern friends. 
" The rest is silence." 



40 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Not alone as a Latin or Greek scholar, but in the study 
of the modern languages, and the study and translation of 
modern authors, does Judge Cowley take equally high 
rank. Following his translation of the accounts given by 
the Greek and Roman authors, we give herewith his 
translation of the famous dialogue, written in French by 
the Most Rev. Francis Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray. 
This dialogue is based on the account of Valerius Maximus. 

DIALOGUE BETWEEN DIONYSIUS, DAMON, 
AND PYTHIAS. 

Dionysius. Amazing! What do I see? Pythias — returned! 
It is, indeed, Pythias. I never thought it possible. After all, 
he has come back to die, to redeem his friend. 

Pythias. Yes, it is Pythias. I left my dungeon to pay my 
vows to Heaven, to settle my affairs, and bid my family a last 
adieu ; and now I am satisfied, and can die in peace. 

Dionysius. But why have you returned? Have you no 
love of life or dread of death ? Why, man, you are mad, to throw 
away your life in this way. 

Pythias. I have come back to die, though I have done 
nothing to deserve it. But my honor forbids me to break my 
word, or to allow my friend to die in my place. 

Dionysius. What, then, do you love Damon better than 
yourself? 

Pythias. No; but I love him as myself; and I know that 
I ought to die rather than Damon; for it was I that was ad- 
judged to death. It would be most unjust that Damon should 
perish to save me from the scaffold which has been erected, not 
for him, but for me. 

Dionysius. But you think it is as unjust to put you to death 
as it is to put Damon to death. 

Pythias. Very true ; we are both perfectly innocent ; and 
the death of one of us is as unjust as the death of the other. 

Dionysius. Then why is it more unjust to put Damon to 
death than yourself? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



41 



Pythias. It is as unjust that I should suffer as that Damon 
should suffer ; yet it would be most cruel and unjust in me to per- 
mit Damon to suffer the penalty which was imposed, though most 
unjustly, for my act alone. 

Dionysius. You mean to say, then, that you have come 
back on the day assigned for your execution, with no other mo- 
tive than this fastidious honor, and solely for the purpose of sav- 
ing Damon's life by sacrificing your own! 

Pythias. I have come back, so far as you are concerned, 
to suffer an unjust and cruel penalty, too common under such 
governments as yours; but as to Damon, I am come merely to 
perform my duty, by rescuing him from the peril which his own 
generosity assumed by becoming surety for my return. 

Dionysius. And now, Damon, I will hear you. Had you 
no fear that Pythias would fail to return, — and that you, as his 
surety, would be executed in his stead ? 

Damon. O, I never had a doubt that Pythias would come 
back. I know the integrity and fidelity of the man ; and I knew 
he would be far more anxious to keep faith with me than to save 
his own life. For myself, I wish his family and friends had kept 
him at home. If his life had thus been preserved he would 
have lived as a benefactor, not only to his own family, but to 
Syracuse, to Sicily, and to the world. Under such circum- 
stances I should have died without regret. 

Dionysius. Is life then a burden to you, that you are so 
ready to throw it away ? 

Damon. This world — this kingdom of Sicily — has no charm 
for me — where my life, my liberty, and my property can be 
taken from me at any moment, at the word or nod of a tyrant. 

Dionysius. Very well, then. You shall see Pythias no 
more. I will order you to immediate execution. 

PytHias. Pardon the feelings of a man who has sympathy 
for his dying friend. Remember, it was I whom you doomed to 
death; and here I have come to suffer that death in order that 
I might redeem my friend. Pray, do not deny me this one con- 
solation in my last hour. 

Dionysius. But men who despise death, and set my gov- 
ernment at defiance, are not to be endured in Syracuse. 



42 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



Damon. Cannot virtue be endured in Syracuse ? Is it noth- 
ing that a man is so faithful to his friendships that he will pledge 
his own life to redeem his friend ? 

Dionysius. Friendship is well enough in its place; but 
what I cannot endure is that proud, disdainful virtue, which holds 
life in contempt, which has no dread of death, and for which 
wealth and pleasure has no charm. 

Damon. And yet you see that virtue which you despise is 
not insensible to the dictates of Honor, Justice, and Friendship. 

Dionysius. Oh, I see it is useless to parley with such men. 
Guards, take Pythias to the scaffold. Let us see whether Da- 
mon will respect my authority. 

Damon. Pardon a single word. Pythias, by coming back 
and submitting himself to your displeasure, has merited your 
favor, and deserves to live ; while I have excited your indigna- 
tion by resigning myself to your power, in order to save him. 
Pray, let one life atone for both ; be content with one sacrifice, 
and let me be put to death. 

Pythias. Hold, Dionysius ! Remember, it was Pythias 
alone who offended you. Damon could not — 

Dionysius. Gracious Heavens! What do I see and hear? 
Where am I, and what am I ? Utterly wretched and miserable, 
and so I deserve to be. I have known nothing of true virtue 
till now. I have passed my life without love. I have had 
wealth, office, honor, power; but these cannot buy friendship; 
— they can never win love. For thirty years I have swayed 
Sicily and Syracuse. I have had a host of sycophants, but I 
have never had a single friend, who deserved that name. And 
here, these two men, in private life, love one another, trust one 
another, confide in one another, are thoroughly happy in one 
another, and either of them would be glad to die to save the 
other. 

Pythias. How could you, Dionysius, who have never loved 
any one yourself, expect to win friends ? Had you yourself loved 
or respected other men, you would thereby have won their love 
and respect in return. But you loathe and dread all mankind, 
and they, as a natural consequence, loathe and dread you. 

Dionysius. Damon — Pythias — your attachment to each 
other is wonderful. It is a revelation to me which I would not 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



43 



forget. Will you — can you — admit me as a third member in a 
union that is so perfect ? I freely give you your lives ; and I 
will open to both of you the road to wealth and fame. 

Damon. We have no wish for riches. The philosopher, 
whose disciples we are, has taught us a higher code of ethics 
than you would care to accept. The virtue which he inculcates 
is a constant endeavor to represent everywhere on earth the 
beauty, the unity, and the harmony which is everywhere dis- 
played in the order of the universe. How could you, who 
have for fifty years given free play to every passion, now 
acquire that mastery of all your passions which Pythagoras 
insists on as indispensable in his disciples ? We should be glad 
of your friendship; but we could not accept it without these 
qualifications. One word more, Dionysius, before we quit your 
presence. You would have friends ; but, except upon these con- 
ditions, the desire is a vain longing. You have — and while in 
power you can always have — slavish sycophants and vile flatter- 
ers; but to be beloved and esteemed by free and generous souls, 
you must yourself learn to live as they live, and acquire their 
virtues. 




44 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE POETIC DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 

I WORLD at large knows Damon and 
J Pythias through the story as presented 
^S by the young Irish author, dramatist 
and poet, John Banim. It might be 
said of this author that in his hands and 
those of Shiei, who aided him, the names 
and fame of the two friends, Damon and 
Pythias, were resurrected and crowned with 
greater glory than that which adorned the 
historic pair in the days of Dionysius, the 
tyrant. 
The drama was first produced on the 28th of May, 
182 1, at the Covent Garden Theatre. The cast was 
made up from the very best actors of that time, and the 
success of the drama was unprecedented. The story, as 
told by Valerius Maximus, has not been materially altered 
in so far as the friendship and self-sacrificing devotion of 
Damon and Pythias for one another is concerned. The 
two characters have, however, in the hands of the poet, 
changed places, so that Pythias has become the hostage 
instead of Damon. As before stated, the history of the 
Knights of Pythias would not be complete without this 
drama, any more than the description of a mighty river 
without pointing out the spring from which it took its 
rise. This drama was the spring from which has come 
our great Pythian river that to-day is bearing such a 
vast flotilla through life's storms and billows into the 




z 

u 

g 

b 
u 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 45 

great harbor of rest, and it was from this version of the 
lives of these two friends that the Founder of the Order 
drew his inspiration. This drama, in its lesson of devo- 
tion and friendship, is the exponent of Pythian doctrine 
as taught by our Order, and it will so stand for all time 
to come. 

So, as a part of our history, as a part of the literature 
of the world that is now the property of the Order of 
Knights of Pythias, we publish here the 

DRAMA OF DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 

ACT I. 

Scene I. — A street in Syracuse. 
Dionysius and Procles discovered, as expecting tidings. 

Dion. Ere this the senate should have closed its councils, 
And chosen the new year's president. I pant 
To know their meeting's issue. 

Proc. Good my lord, 
There's but light doubt a great majority 
Of easy-purchased voices will be found 
For your fast friend, Philistius. 

Dion. On his choice 
Hangs the long chain of complicated purpose 
Has ta'en such time in linking. Plague upon 
The law, that from the senate-house excludes 
All soldiers, like ourselves, or we should soon 
Outvote all difficulty ! 

Ha ! methinks the assembly hath dissolved. 
By Jupiter ! 

Philistius' self doth hasten to us here, 
And with him Damocles ! How now, my friend ? 

Enter Philistius and Damocles. 

Art thou the president ? 
Phil. I am, my lord. 
Chosen by a large majority to take 



46 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The honorable office in the which 
I may, at least, requite the benefits 
Which you have heaped upon me. 

Dam. Yes, my lord, 
We have at last attained the 'vantage ground, 
Whence your broad view may take a boundless prospect. 

Dion. 'Tis a bold step upon the mountain-path, 
Wherein I have been toiling. I no longer 
Doubt of the senate's inclination. 

[To Procles.] What say the soldiers ? Thou hast hinted to them 
That we confided to thee ? 

Proc. Yes, my lord; 
And they are ready for it. 

Dion. Go thou hence, 
And speak to them again ; disperse more gold ; 
'Twill give a relish to thine eloquence ; 
And, hark ye, lead them this way ; I shall here 
Await thy coming. Ha ! behold in air, 
Where a majestic eagle floats above 
The northern turrets of the citadel ; 
And, as the sun breaks through yon rifted cloud, 
His plumage shines, embathed in burning gold, 
And sets off his regality in heaven ! 
Thou knowest how readily the multitude 
Are won by such bright augury — make use 

Of divination — haste thee ! [Exit Procles. 

Philistius, give me your hand. I thank you. 
Things look in smiles upon me. It was otherwise 
But a year since, when I impeached the magistrates 
For treasonable dealing with the foe, 
And the senate hurled me from my topmost height 
Of popularity. 

Dam. Degraded you 
From power and office. 

Dion. Ay ! at the appeal 
Of that stale pedant, the Pythagorean, 
Who hangs out his austerity for sale, 
In frowns, closed lips, and pithy sentences. 

Dam. Thou speakest of Damon ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



47 



Dion. Ay, mine enemy, 
The patriot and philosophic knave, 
Who hath been busy with my purposes, 
And one day shall not smile at it. He came 
Into the senate-house, with a fierce crew 
Of his associates in philosophy, 
Silent and frowning, at his back ; he railed, 
And had his triumph. — Times have altered since ; 
And, to the mould and fashion of my will, 
Shall yet take stranger shape, when, Damocles, 
These long-trained law-givers, these austere sages, 
Shall find I can remember. 

"Dam. Let them feel it. 

"Dion. In all that biting bitterness of heart 
"Which clings, and gnaws, by inches, to its object, 
' ' More keen, because a first essay hath failed, 
" In shame and suffering, failed, thus have I sped 
"My work, in silence, on. It did become 
" A thought inwoven with my inmost being." 

Dam. The steps 
Which since most visibly you have ascended, 
Must have required much effort ? 

Dion. Yes ! to have flung 
Into the shade of public disrepute, 
The very men whose voices were most loud 
In working out my ruin ; after that, 
To gain the army's suffrage; — to be chosen 
Its head and general, that was another ; 
To have won that very senate — 

Phil. Yet pause, my lord : 
Howe'er complying you have hitherto 
Found that assembly, and though most of them 
Are plunged into your debt, beyond all means 
Of their redemption, yet may there be still 
Some sudden reluctation to the last 
And mightiest of all hopes. 

Dion. The garrison 
Is not a bad ally, methinks ? 



48 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Phil. The war 
Hath ta'en the flower of all the troops from Syracuse, 
And Damon heading the vile populace — 

Dion. I came from Agrigentum to entreat 
Arms, corn, and money from the senators, 
While I myself have purposely delayed 
The granting them ; meantime, the city is filled 
With many thousands of my followers. 

Phil. But are they not unweaponed? 

Dion. This city of Syracuse — 
It hath a citadel ? 

Phil. True, sir ; it hath. 

Dion. And therein, as I deem, its national stock 
Of corn, and arms, and gold is treasured ? 

Phil. True. 

Dion. The citadel is not impregnable ; 
And when it is manned and ordered to my will, 
What of these frothy speech-makers? [Shouts are heard. 

Phil. My Lord, 
The soldiers shout for you. 

Dion. Procles, I see, 
Is at his work. — Good Damocles, Philistius, 
As you are senators, retire you hence ; 
It were not meet that you should look to have been 
Parties to any act which afterwards 
May grow into discussion. — And, Philistius, 
One effort more among our city friends : 
I will forewarn thee of the time to call 
The senators together. — Yet, I mean not 
Exclusively to trust them, good Philistius; — 
Sure means, sure ends. — I'll have a friend or two 
Within my call, to help them. — If their councils 
Become too knotty for unravelling, 
A sharp sword may be useful. — Fare you well. 

[Exeunt Philistius and Damocles. 

[Voices without.} Ay, to the citadel! — The citadel! 

Enter Procles and Soldiers. 
Dion. Who talks of moving to the citadel ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



49 



Proc. It is himself — huzza ! 

All. Huzza ! our general ! 

Dion. Good friends, I thank ye. Procles, art thou here ? 
Hast thou distributed to these much-wronged men 
The trifling bounty which I charged thee with ? 

Proc. They have it, noble general. 

Dion. My friends, 
'Twas a poor offering, and beneath your taking ; 
But, as yourselves do know, my private purse 
Is light as that of any other veteran 
Within the walls of Syracuse. Speak, Procles ; — 
Who talks of moving to the citadel ? 

Proc. We, Dionysius, we. Yes, these brave spirits; 
Indignant at the senate's heedlessness 
Of you, and them, and of the general honor. 

Dion. Give me not cause, my friends, to deem myself 
Dishonored and endangered in your love ; 
For, as I am a soldier and a man, 
Could I believe that any other thought 
Engaged you to possess the citadel, 
Save your anxiety for the soldier's weal, 
And the state's safety, I would raise my hand 
In supplication 'gainst your enterprise ; — 
But, as the time now urges, and cries out 
For sudden muster and organization 
Of the brave thousands who but wait for swords 
To join your ranks, and rush with you to glory ; — 
And yet the senate — 

Proc. Speak not of the senate : 
We do renounce its service, and despise it. 

Dion. It was my thought to say, if they object, 
We may submit it as a needful step ; 
Claiming allowance in the exigency 
Of the occasion. 

Proc. They shall not control it. 
We seek not for their judgment of our act. 
On, general, on ! 

Dion. When did ye call, 
That I replied not with my word and deed, 



50 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

My heart and hand ? Even as you say it, on ! 
On, fellow-soldiers, to the citadel ! [Draws his sword. 

And let your swords be out, more in the show 
Of what ye are, soldiers and fighting men, 
Than with a harmful purpose. Let us on ! 
All. On to the citadel ! — the citadel ! 

[Exeunt with cries, and brandishing their swords. 

Enter Damon. 

Damon. Philistius, then, is president at last, 
And Dionysius has o'erswayed it? Well, 
It is what I expected. There is now 
No public virtue left in Syracuse. 
What should be hoped from a degenerate, 
Corrupted, and voluptuous populace, 
When highly-born and meanly-minded nobles 
Would barter freedom for a great man's feast, 
And sell their country for a smile ? The stream 
With a more sure eternal tendency 
Seeks not the ocean, than a sensual race 
Their own devouring slavery. I am sick, 
At my immost heart, of everything I see 
And hear ! Oh, Syracuse, I am, at last, 
Forced to despair of thee ! And yet thou art 
My land of birth — thou art my country still ; 
And, like an unkind mother, thou hast left 
The claims of holiest nature in my heart, 

And I must sorrow for, not hate thee ! [Shouts are heard. 

What shouts are these ? 'Tis from the citadel. 
The uproar is descending. 

Enter Lucullus. 
Speak, Lucullus ! 
What has befallen ? 

Luc. Have you not heard the news ? 

Damon. What news? 

Luc. As through the streets I passed, the people 
Said that the citadel was in the hands 
Of Dionysius. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



51 



Damon. The citadel 
In Dionysius' hands ? What dost thou tell me ? 
How — wherefore — when ? In Dionysius' hands — 
The traitor Dionysius ? — Speak, Lucullus, 
And quickly! 

Luc. It was said, that by rude force, 
Heading a troop of soldiers, he had ta'en 
Possession of the citadel, and seized 
The arms and treasure in't. [Exit Lucullus. 

Damon. I am thunder-stricken ! 
The citadel assaulted, and the armory 

In that fierce soldier's power! [Shouts are heard, .] Again! By all 
The gods on high Olympus, I behold 
His standard waving o'er it — and they come, 
His most notorious satellites, high heaped 
With arms and plunder ! Parricidal slaves ! 
What have ye done ? [Snouts are heard. 



Enter Procles, Officers, and Soldiers. 

Proc. and Sol. For Dionysius ! Ho ! 
For Dionysius ! 

Damon,. Silence ! obstreperous traitors ! 
Your throats offend the quiet of the city ; 
And thou, who standest foremost of these knaves, 
Stand back, and answer me — a senator, 
What have you done ? 

Proc. But that I know 'twill gall thee, 
Thou poor and talking pedant of the school 
Of dull Pythagoras, I'd let thee make 
Conjecture from thy senses ; but, in hope 
'Twill stir your solemn anger, learn from me 
We have ta'en possession of the citadel, 
And— 

Damon. Patience, ye good gods ! a moment's patience, 
That these too ready hands may not enforce 
The desperate precept of my rising heart — 
Thou most contemptible and meanest tool 
That ever tyrant used ! 



5 2 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Proc. Do you hear him, soldiers ? 
First, for thy coward railings at myself, 
And since thou hast called our Dionysius tyrant, 
Here, in the open streets of Syracuse, 
I brand thee for a liar and a traitor. 

Damon. Audacious slave ! 

Proc. Upon him, soldiers ! 
Hew him to pieces ! 

Soldiers. On him ! [ They advance, shouting. 

Enter Pythias, as they rush upon Damon. 

Pyth. Back, on your lives ! 
Cowards, damned, treacherous cowards, back, I say ! 
Do you know me ? Look upon me : do you know 
This honest sword I brandish ? You have seen it 
Among the ranks of Carthage ; would you now 
Taste its shrewd coldness in your quaking selves? 

[Officers and Soldiers advance. 
Back ! back ! I say. He hath his armor on — 
I am his sword, shield, helm; I but enclose 
Myself, and my own heart, and heart's blood, when 
I stand before him thus. 

Damon. Falsehearted cravens ! 
We are but two — my Pythias, my halved heart !— 
My Pythias, and myself! but dare come on, 
Ye hirelings of a tyrant ! dare advance 
A foot, or raise an arm, or bend a brow, 
And ye shall learn what two such arms can do 
Amongst a thousand of ye. [Soldiers advance. 

Pyth. Off! 
Off, villians, off! — Each for the other thus, 
And in that other, for his dearer self! 
Why, Procles, art thou not ashamed — for I 
Have seen thee do good work in battle time — 
Art not ashamed, here on a single man 
To rush in coward numbers? Fie upon thee! 
I took thee for a soldier. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 53 

Proc. For thy sake, 
Who art a warrior like ourselves, we spare him. 
'Twas a good star of his that led thee hither 
From Agrigentum, to lift up thine arm 
In the defence of that long robe of peace 
Wherein he wraps his stern philosophy. 
Come, teach him better manners. Soldiers, on ! 
Let us to Dionysius. 

^Exeunt Procles, Officers, and Soldiers, shouting. 

Pyth. Art thou safe 
From these infuriate stabbers ? 

Damon. Thanks to thee, 
I am safe, my gallant soldier, and fast friend : 
My better genius sent thee to my side, 
When I did think thee far from Syracuse. 

Pyth. I have won leave to spend some interval 
From the fierce war, and come to Syracuse 
With purpose to espouse the fair Calanthe. — 
The gods have led me hither, since I come 
In time to rescue thee. 
How grew this rude broil up ? 

Damon. Things go on here 
Most execrably, Pythias. But you are come 
To be a husband, are you not ? 

Pyth. To-morrow 
I call my soft Calanthe wife. 

Damon. Then, Pythias, 
I will not shade the prospect of your joys 
With any griefs of mine. I cry you mercy — 
These are experiments too over nice 
For one that has a mistress, and would wed her 
With an uncut throat. I have oft wished, myself, 
That to the blest retreats of private life 
My lot had been awarded ; every hour 
Makes one more sick and weary with the sense 
Of this same hopeless service of a state, 
Where there is not enough of virtue left 
To feed the flarings of our liberty. 



54 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

But, my soldier, 

I will not make thee a participant 

In my most sad forebodings. — Pythias, 

I say 'twere better to be the Persian's slave, 

And let him tread upon thee, when he would 

Ascend his horse's back, than — yet, not so; 

I am too much galled and fretted to pronounce 

A sober judgment, and the very mask 

Of freedom is yet better than the bold, 

Uncovered front of tyranny. — Farewell ! 

Pyth. Nay, I must follow thee, and find the cause 
That so perturbs thy spirit. 

Damon. How, sir! You have 
A mistress here in Syracuse, and, look, 
Herself comes forth to meet you. 

Pyth. Where? Calanthe! 
Nay, I behold her not — you mock me, Damon. 

Damon. [Pointing in a different direction.} 
Look this way, sir. 

Pyth. It is herself, indeed, 
My own, my fond, betrothed one. [Puns to meet her, 

Enter Calanthe. 

Cat. My dear, 
But most neglecting Pythias ! 

Pyth. By the birth 
Of Venus, when she rose out of the sea, 
And with her smile did fill the Grecian isles 
With everlasting verdure, she was not, 
Fresh from the soft creation of the wave, 
More beautiful than thou ! 

Cat. Thou fondly thinkest 
To hide thy false oblivion of the maid 
That, with a panting heart, awaited thee. 
Now, Pythias, I do take it most unkind, 
That thou to friendship hast made sacrifice 
Of the first moment of thy coming here. 

Pyth. Nay, chide me not, for I was speeding to thee. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. $5 

Cal. Soon as I heard thou wert in Syracuse 
I ran at once to hail thee with a smile, 
Although my mother would have staid me. 

[Pythias kisses her hand. 

Damon. [Lost in thought. .] Yes, 
My wife and child — 
They must at least be safe. 

Pyth. And how, Calanthe, 
Fares thy dear mother? 

Cal. Happy in the thought, 
If she must needs (as she must) part with me. 
It is at least to thee. 

Pyth. And my poor father? 

Cal. Time has almost shut up his faculties \ 
And he can scarce distinguish any voice 
That is addressed to him. The day is passed 
Upon his couch; at evening, in a chair, 
He is carried to the terrace walk before 
The threshold of his mansion, where the wind, 
Fresh from the sea, plays with his locks of gray, 
'Til, pleased at last, he smiles. That gentle smile, 
As 'tis the first denotement of a thought 
In speechless infancy, 'tis the last sign 
Of the expiring mind. 

Pyth. My soft Calanthe 
Must be a tender on infirmity 
Before her time. But where' s my silent friend ? 

Damon. [Aside, and lost in thought .] One brave blow 
And it were done ! By all the gods, one blow 
And Syracuse were free ! 

Pyth. [Touching him on the shoulder. ,] Why, Damon, what's 
the matter ? 

Damon. Pythias, is't you ? 
[To Calanthe.] I cry you mercy, fair one! Pythias, 
You are to be married. Haste thee, Pythias, — 
Love, and fight on. Thine arm to Mars, thy heart 
Give to his paramour. — Take thou no care 
Of the politician's study — 'twill turn pale 



56 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Thy face, make thee grow sick at nature's loveliness, 
And find in her pure beauty but one blank 
Of dismal, colorless sterility. 
Calanthe, look to it : let him not play 
The statesman's sorry part. 

Pyth. Damon, you let 
The commonwealth o'erfret you. I was about 
To pray you to our wedding. 

Damon. I intended, 
Unbidden, to be there. 

Pyth. From friendship's eyes 
I'll win addition to my happiness. 
Calanthe, come — I should be half in fear, 
To seem thus loving of thee, in the sight 
Of this philosopher. 

Cal. Nay, he pretends 
To be by half more rugged and more wise, 
Than he hath any right to : I have seen him, 
(Have I not, Damon ?) looking at his wife, 
When he imagined none was there to mark 
The proud Pythagorean, with an eye 
Filled up with tenderness : — and his young boy, too, 
That seems Aurora's child, with his fine face, 
Stirred his stern visage to complacency. 
Come, come, we'll be revenged upon you both : 
I swear, his wife and I will be accounted 
Your rivals in the godlike quality 
Your lordly sex would arrogate its own 
Peculiar privilege, and show the world 
Th' unseen, and yet unrumored prodigy — 
The friendship of a woman. \_Exeunt Calanthe and Pythias. 

Enter Lucullus. 

Damon. Hark thee, Lucullus : 
My wife and child must instantly depart 
From Syracuse; — you must attend them hence, 
Unto my villa, on the mountain side. 

Luc. Alas, my lord ! 

Damon. Why dost thou droop ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 57 

Luc. My lord, 
I was your slave ; you gave me liberty ; 
And when I see you perilled — 

Damon. Nay, Lucullus, 
Where is the warrant for thy fear ? 

Luc. I read 
You are engaged in some dread enterprise, 
Else you would not deny them to your sight : 
You fear the leaning ruin may fall down 
Upon their dearer heads. 

Damon. I charge you, sir, 
No prying into my purposes. — Take care 
You speak not to my wife of anything 
May stir her apprehensions — see, she comes — 
Beware — thy looks betray thee. [ Lucullus retires. 

Enter Hermion. 

Her. Art thou safe, 
Damon, art safe ? 

Damon. You are not a widow yet. 

Her. For shame to talk of such a thing. I have heard 
Of thy rude quarrelling with that same fierce 
And overbearing soldier I But thou art safe. — 
Proud men ! how reckless of the faithful hearts 
That dote on you — that hang their weakness on ye ! 
How reckless of us in your bustling hours 
Of occupation and despatch ye are ! 
Ah, then you think not of the pining mate, 
Left in her solitude, with naught to do 
But weep for your return, and chide the gods 
That make your minds so stern and enterprising. 

Damon. Hermion, I think the city's fulsome air 
Likes not our boy : — the color in his cheek 
Hath lost its rich and healthful purity. 

Her. Nay, you are wrong there; — 'tis like a young peach; 
Or yet more fresh and blooming. 

Damon. Hermion, 
I have resolved that you and he shall go 
Unto my villa, near to Syracuse. 

Her. But you will come with us ? 



58 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Damon. Hermion, you know 
My occupation forbids that wish. 

Luc. [Advancing.'] My lord — 

Damon. Forbear, sir — [Lucullus retires] — yet I cannot go— 
I mean, I cannot go immediately — 
The state affairs lay hold upon me. You 
Must hence before me thither. 

Her. Damon — 

Damon. Come, 
Look not thus sadly. 

Her. I have learned too well 
The usage of obedience, to inquire 
Into your purposes. 

Damon. Hermion, I'll take 
Occasion oft to visit you — to-morrow — 
If possible, to-morrow. 

Her. Will you so ? 
Nay, will you truly promise it ? 

Damon. I do. — 
Hermion, you must be sudden; you must despatch. 
Come — but I'll see my boy before you go. 
Hermion, he is our only one. That child 
Is made of thy own heart and mine. I charge thee, 
Have thou a care, in all vicissitudes 
Of private or of public incident, 
To form in him what will out-top the height 
Of the best laurel-tree in all the groves 
Of the Academy — an honest man. [Exeunt. 



ACT II. 

Scene I. — A Chamber in Arria's House. 
Enter Pythias and Calanthe. 

Pyth. So, my Calanthe, you would waste the moon 
Of Hymen in this lonely spot ? 

Cal. In sooth, 
I would, for 'tis the fairest place in Sicily : 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 59 

A dell, made of green beauty ; with its shrubs 

Of aromatic sweetness growing up 

The rugged mountain's sides, as cunningly 

As the nice structure of a little nest, 

Built by two loving nightingales. ' ' The wind 

' ' That comes there, full of rudeness from the sea, 

" Is lulled into a balmy breath of peace 

"The moment that it enters; and 'tis said 

' ' By our Sicilian shepherds, that their songs 

" Have in this place a wilder melody. 

"The mountains all about it are the haunts 

' ' Of many a fine romantic memory ! 

" High towers old JEtna., with his feet deep clad 

' ' In the green sandals of the freshful spring ; 

1 ' His sides arrayed in winter, and his front 

" Shooting aloft the everlasting flame. 

"On the right hand is the great cave, in which 

"Huge Polyphemus dwelt, between whose vast 

' ' Colossal limbs the artful Grecian stole. 

' ' On the other side 

' ' Is Galatea's dainty dressing-room, 

" Wrought in the living marble; and within 

" Is seen the fountain where she used to twine 

"The ringlets on her neck that did ensnare 

"The melancholy Cyclop." — But what care you, 

A soldier, for such fantasies ? I know 

A way that better shall persuade you to 

That place for our sweet marriage residence : — 

There Damon hath his villa — Ha ! you seem 

Determined by the fast proximity 

Of such a friendship, more than all my love. 

Pyth. Does Damon dwell there ? 

Cal. No; his Hermion 
And his young boy — Oh ! 'tis a beauteous child ! — 
Are sent there from the city's noxious air; 
And he doth visit them whene'er the state 
Gives him brief respite. Tell me, Pythias, 
Shall we not see the hymeneal moon 
Glide through the blue heavens there ? 



60 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Pyth. My own adored one ! 
If thou should' st bid me sail away with thee 
To seek the isles of the Hesperides, 
I would, with such a pilot, spread my sail 
Beyond the trophies of great Hercules, 
Making thine eyes my Cynosure ! 

Enter Lucullus, hastily. 

How now, Lucullus? 

Luc. Where is my lord ? I was informed 
That I should find him here — a senator 
Bade me require him instantly. 

Pyth. He waits here 
To attend us to the temple, and if things 
Of weight demand his ear, you'll find him yonder 
In the pale cypress-grove. [Exit Lucullus. 

Nothing, I hope, 

Has happened to withdraw him from the rite 
That makes thee mine. 

Cal. I hope not. — Who is this 
That seeks him out so earnestly ? 

Pyth. He is 
A brave Italian, whom the Carthage pirates 
Seized on his native coast, and sold a slave. 
Damon hath given him back his liberty, 
But yet, of his free will, he tends him still ; 
And more than very freedom doth he hold 
The right to serve a man that is fine touched 
With a most merciful spirit. 

Cal. Nay, my Pythias, 
Make not your friend's high qualities for aye 
The burthen of your eloquence. In sooth, 
I should be almost jealous of a steed 
I saw you pat with a too liberal hand ; 
And — ha ! he comes. 

Enter Damon. 

Damon. Pythias — [Aside] I must not let 
Calanthe read my purpose. — Calanthe, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 01 

The blessing and the bounty of the gods 

Be with you, over you, and all around you, 

Thou gentle girl ! [Aside to Pythias.'] Pythias, a word with you. 

What heard I, think you, Pythias, even now ? 

Cat. There has been Pythias, all this forenoon, 
Would speak to me of nothing but the esteem 
In which he held thee, Damon. 

Damon. What! no word 
Touching the quality of that foolish lo/e 

He bears the fair Calanthe ? [Aside to Pythias.] We are undone, 
We and our wretched city, Pythias ! 

Pyth. [Aside to Damon.] What dost thou mean ? 

Cat. No, not a single word — 
Thou, thou alone mad'st up his eulogy. 

Damon. What think' st thou, Pythias ? A king ! [Aside. 

Pyth. [Aside to Damon.] What! who? 

Damon. [To Calanthe^] Heed not 
His silken praises of me. [Aside to Pythias.] Dionysius 
Is to be crowned in the senate-house. 

Pyth. Can it be possible ? 

Damon. I say thee yea — 
His soldiers line the streets. 

Pyth. But will the senate — 
The coward senate, sanction it ? Will none 
Oppose him in it ? 

Da?non. Oppose him! — [Aloud.] All the gods 
So help or strike me, as I will oppose him ! 
Let ^Etna vomit fire upon his side, 
And I alone, — [Searching about him.] Have I forgot my dagger! 

Cat. How now, my Pythias ? 

Pyth. He is moved, Calanthe, 
By some most urgent matter of the state ; 
Nay, heed him not ! 

Damon. Pythias, as I intended 
To be a witness to thy wedding rite, 
I did not bear a weapon — give me thy poniard. 

Pyth. Speak, to what end? 

Damon. No matter, give it me. 



62 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Cal. Ha ! What does he intend. Now, by my love, 
Pythias, I do adjure thee — 

Pyth. Whither, Damon, 
Where would' st thou go ? 

Damon. Unto the senate-house. 

Pyth. Then I will with you, too. 

Cal. He shall not ! 

Damon. No! [To Calanthe. 

Thou say'st aright, — he shall not ! Fair Calanthe, 
This is no hour to leave thee ! What, Calanthe, 
Should bridegrooms give the law, and 'gin to rule 
Even on their wedding day ? I charge thee, sweet, 
Assert thy brief dominion while thou canst : 
'Twill speedily be his turn. [Aside to Pythias. 

It shall not be ! It is against the law 
For any soldier in the senate-house 
To lift his helm of war, and what avail 
Were thy companionship ! Calanthe, take him, 
Take him away, and heaven be o'er you both ! 

Pyth. But thou wilt promise me, upon the faith 
Of an old friendship, that thy sudden hand 
Will not attempt a rashness ? 

Damon. Be thou satisfied ; 
I will do naught in passion. Come, Calanthe, [Aside. 

Assert thy right in him, and take him hence 
Unto the garden-walk, and tell him o'er 
The names of all thy favorite plants : I pray thee. 
Keep him in busy trifles till the hour 
For the sweet rite be come — [Joins their hands'] — That's 

well, my girl; 
There, take him by the arm ! 

Cal. Come, Pythias, come! 
I thank thee, Damon, for thy tender counsel. 

Pyth. Nay, Damon — nay, Calanthe — 

Cal. Nay me no nays ; 
I say it shall be so. 

Damon. May the gods pour 
Their blessing o'er your heads ! — Farewell ! farewell ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 6$ 

I have no time to bide here, but my heart 
Shall be beside you at the altar place. 
Perhaps it is an idle fear compels me 
Hence from your sight : I will if possible 
Return and see you wedded. Fare you well ! 

[Exeunt Pythias, and Calanthe. 
Now, Syracuse, for thee ! — And may the fates 
So bless, or curse me, as I act in this ! [Exit 

Scene II. — The Senate-House of Syracuse. 

Senators assembled — Philistius at their head. — Dionysius 
standing. — Damocles seated near him. 

Dam. So soon warned back again ! 

Dion. So soon, good fathers. 
• My last despatches here set forth that scarce 
I had amassed and formed our gallant legions 
When, as by magic, word of the precaution 
Was spirited to their camp — and on the word 
These Carthaginians took their second thought, 
And so fell back. 

Phil. I do submit to you, 
That out of this so happy consequence 
Of Dionysius' movement on the citadel, 
Not only is his pardon for the act 
Freely drawn forth, but we are called upon 
Our thanks most manifestly to express 
For such a noble service. 

Dion. Good Philistius, 
I am a soldier • yours and the state's servant, 
And claim no notice for my duty done 
Beyond the doing it — and the best thanks 
I merit, or can have, lie in the issue 
Which has most happily resulted. 

Dam. [Rising?^ Nay, 
It rests in us to say so. 

Phil. Dionysius, 
The work which of this enterprise thou hast made, 
Proves that our citadel and its resources 



64 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Have been misused; and never so controlled 
And ordered for our good as by thyself; 
Therefore retain it, govern and direct it. — 
Would the whole state were like the citadel ! 
In hot and angry times like these, we want 
Even such a man. 

Dam. I, from my heart, assent to 
And second this proposal. 

Dion. Most reverend fathers — 

Dam. We pray thee, silence, noble Dionysius ! 
All here do know what your great modesty 
Will urge you to submit ; but I will raise 
This envious veil wherein you shroud yourself. 
It is the time to speak ; our country's danger 
Calls loudly for some measure at our hands, 
Prompt and decisive. 

Damon. [Prom without.] Thou most lowly minion ! 
I'll have thee whipped for it, and by the head 
Made less even than thou art ! 

Enter Damon. 

Phil. Who breaks so rude and clamorously in 
To scare our grave deliberations ? 

Damon. A senator ! — First let me ask you why, 
Upon my way here to sit down with you, 
I have encountered in the open streets, 
Nay, at the very threshold of your doors, 
Soldiers and satellites arrayed and marshalled 
With their swords out ? Why have I been obstructed 
By an armed bandit in my peaceful walk here, 
To take my rightful seat in the senate-house? 
Why has a ruffian soldier privilege 
To hold his weapon to my throat ? A tainted, 
Disgraced, and abject traitor, Procles ! Who 
Dared place the soldiers round the senate-house ? 

Phil. I pray you, fathers, let not this rash man 
Disturb the grave and full consideration 
Of the important matter, touching which 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 65 

We spoke ere he rushed in. 

Dam. [To the Senators.^ I did require 
To know from you, without a hand or head, 
Such as to us hath been our Dionysius 
What now were our most likely fate ? 

Damon. The fate 
Of freeman, in the full, free exercise 
Of all the noble rights that freeman love ! 
Free in our streets to walk ; free in our councils 
To speak and act — 

Phil. I do entreat you, senators, 
Protect me from this scolding demagogue. 

Damon. Demagogue, Philistius ! 
Who was the demagogue, when at my challenge 
He was denounced and silenced by the senate, 
And your scant oratory spent itself 
In fume and vapor ? 

Dam. Silence, Damon, silence ! 
And let the council use its privilege. 

Damon. Who bids me silence ? Damocles, the soft 
And pliant willow, Damocles ! But come, 
What do you dare propose ? Come, I'll be silent — 
Go on. 

Phil. Resolve you, then, is Dionysius 
This head indeed to us ? Acting for us — 
Yea, governing, that long have proved we cannot, 
Although we feign it, govern for ourselves ! 

Dam. Then who so fit, in such extremity, 
To be the single pillar, on whose strength 
All power should rest ? 

Phil. Ay, and what needs the state 
Our crowded and contentious councils here ? 
And therefore, senators — countrymen, rather, 
That we may be wiser and better ruled 
Than by ourselves we are ; that the state's danger 
May be confronted boldly, and that he 
May have but his just meed, I do submit 
That forthwith we dissolve ourselves, and choose 
A king in Dionysius. 



66 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Damon. King ! A King ? 

ist Sen. I do approve it. 

2d Sen. Ay, and I. 

Dam. And all ! All are content ! 

Damon. And all ! are all content ? 
A nation's right betrayed, 
And all content ! Oh, slaves !. oh, parricides ! 
Oh, by the brightest hope a just man has, 
I blush to look around and call you men ! 
What! with your own free, willing hands yield up 
The ancient fabric of your constitution, 
To be a garrison, a common barrack, 
And common guard-house, and for common cut-throats ? 
What! will ye all combine to tie a stone 
Each to each other's neck, and drown like dogs 
Within the tide of time, and never float 
To after ages, or, at best, but float 
A buoyant pestilence ? Can ye but dig 
Your own dark graves, creep into them, and die ? 

3^ Sen. I have not sanctioned it. 

4tn Sen. Nor I. 

$th Sen. Nor I. 

Damon. Oh ! thanks for these few voices ! but, alas ! 
How lonely do they sound ! Do you not all 
Start up at once, and cry out liberty ? 
Are you so bound in fetters of the mind, 
That there you sit, as if you were yourselves 
Incorporate with the marble? Syracusans! — 
But no ! I will not rail, nor chide, nor curse ye ! 
I will implore you, fellow-countrymen, 
With blinded eyes, and weak and broken speech, 
I will implore you — Oh ! I am weak in words, 
But I could bring such advocates before you ! 
Your father's sacred images; old men, 
That have been grandsires; women with their children 
Caught up in fear and hurry, in their arms — 
And those old men should lift their shivering voices 
And palsied hands — and those affrighted mothers 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 6? 

Should hold their innocent infants forth, and ask, 
Could you make slaves of them ? 

Phil. I dissolve the senate 
At its own vote and instance. • 

Dam. And all hail ! 
Hail, Dionysius, King of Syracuse ! 

Dion. Is this the vote ? 

Damon. There is no vote ! Philistius, 
Hold you your seat; keep in your places, senators. 

Dion. I ask, is this the vote ? 

Phil. It is the vote, 
My gracious liege and sovereign. 

Damon. I say, nay! 
You have not voted, Naxillus, nor Petus — 
Nor you, nor you, nor you — 

Phil. In my capacity, 
As head and organ of the city council, 
I do asseverate it is the vote ! 
All hail, then, Dionysius ! 

[They all kneel to Dionysius except Damon and the Senators who 
have voted in the negative. 

Dion. I thank you, friends and countrymen, I thank ye ! 

Damon. Oh ! all the gods, my country, oh, my country ! 

Dion. And that we may have leisure to put on 
With fitting dignity our garb of power, 
We do now, first assuming our own right, 
Command from this, that was the senate-house, 
Those rash, tumultuous men, who still would tempt 
The city's peace with wild vociferation 

And vain contentious rivalry. [Pointing to Damon. 

Away ! 

Damon. I stand, 
A senator, within the senate-house ! 

Dion. Traitor ! and dost thou dare me to my face ? 

Damon. Traitor ! to whom ? to thee ! — Oh ! Syracuse, 
Is this thy registered doom ? To have no meaning 
For the proud names of liberty and virtue, 
But as some regal braggart sets it down 



68 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

In his vocabulary ? And the sense, 

The broad, bright sense that Nature hath assigned them 

In her infallible volume, interdicted 

Forever from thy knowledge; or, if seen, 

And known, and put in use, denounced as treasonable, 

And treated thus? No, Dionysius, no ! 

I am no traitor! But in mine allegiance 

To my lost country, I proclaim thee one ! 

Dion. My guards, there ! Ho ! 

Damon. What ! hast thou, then, invoked 
Thy satellites already? 

Enter Procles and Soldiers. 

Dion. Seize him ! 

Damon. \Rushes on Dionysius and attempts to stab Aim.] 
First 
Receive a freeman's legacy ! [JTe is intercepted by guards and 

Procles .] Dionysius, 
Thy genius is triumphant, and old Syracuse 
Bows her to the dust at last ! — 'Tis done; 'tis o'er, 
And we are slaves forever ! 

Dion. We reserve 
This proud, assassinating demagogue, 
Who whets his dagger on philosophy, 
For — an example to his cut-throat school! — 
The axe, and not the sword. Out of his blood 
We'll mix a cement to our monarchy : 
Here do we doom him to a public death ! 

Damon. Death's the best gift to one that never yet 
Wished to survive his country. Here are men 
Fit for the life a tyrant can bestow ! 
Let such as these live on. 

Dion. Hold thou there ! 
Lest, having stirred our vengeance into wrath, 
It reach unto those dearer than thyself — 
Thy wife and child. 

Ha ! have I touched thee, Damon ? Is there a way 
To level thee unto the feebleness 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 69 

Of universal nature ? What, no word ? 
Come, use thy time, my brave philosopher ! 
Thou hast few moments left ! 

Damon. I know thee well — 
Thou art wont to use thy tortures on the heart, 
Watching its agonizing throbs, and making 
A science of that fell anatomy ! 
These are thy bloody metaphysics — this 
Thy barbarous philosophy ! I own 
Thou hast struck thy venomed sting into my soul, 
But while I'm wounded, I despise thee still ! 
My wife ! my child ! Oh, Dionysius, 
Thou should' st have spared me that ! — Procles, lead on. 

\Procles precedes Damon, who goes out, followed by the 
Guards. — The Senators surround Dionysius — and distant 
shouts are heard, as the scene closes. 

Scene III. — A Chamber in Arria's House. — Shouts heard without. 

Enter Pythias. 

Pyth. What shouts rend the wide city ? There is a roar 
Deep as the murmuring of ^Etna. Gods ! 
I tremble for his safety ! What, ho, there ! 

Enter Servant. 
Hast thou, sirrah, 

Heard no intelligence how matters speed 
Up at the senate-house ? 

Ser. My lord, ho word. 

Pyth. And those time-cheating knaves I sent to know — 
They have not yet returned ? 

Ser. Not yet, my lord. 

Pyth. Run thither, then — despatch, for thou'rt light-limbed; 
Regard Lord Damon well ; note how he seems, 
And what he says — On, on ! 

Ser. My lord, I will. 

Pyth. And, hark ! 
Observe of all if any words of wrath 
Fall between him and Dionysius — 
Begone ! [Exit Servant. 



JO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

He is hotly mettled, 

And not life's autumn, nor the discipline 

Of cold Pythagoras' school, has tamed it yet. 

Enter Servant. 

Ser. My lord — 

Pyth. Now, sir, what from the senate-house ? 

Ser. My lord, I know not of the senate-house. 

Pyth. Not, sir ! I sent thee thither, did I not ? 

Ser. Another, sir. I am despatched to say, 
That all the guests and witnesses are come ; 
And that with them the bride Calanthe waits 
To have thy company to the temple. 

Pyth. How! 
Is it the hour ? 

Ser. The hour, my lord, is past. [Exit Servant. 

Pyth. Did ever man upon his wedding-day 
Feel so impatient of the hour arrived 
That is to bless him ? But I dare not stir 
Till I have tidings of my friend: — he is 
Exposed to deadly loss, and may have need 
Of Pythias' sword. By Heaven, I do him "wrong 
In tarrying from his presence at an hour 
So full of peril and perhaps of death. 
Death, did I say ? I must — 

Enter Arria. 

Arria. Now, Pythias, Pythias, 
Why is it that we wait so long for thee ? 
Fie ! thou a bridegroom ! absent now ! 

Pyth. Gods ! if that Dionysius 
Should level at his life! — I prithee, Arria, 
How soon might one with active and light foot 
Run to the senate-house, and back again 
From hence ? 

Arria. Is the man crazed and lunatic ? 
Is it your pleasure that we wait a season — 
I, sir, Calanthe, and our guests and kinsmen. 
For your best humor to get wedded in ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 7 1 

Pyth. Good Arria, pardon me ; take not amiss 
This absent seeming — but I am not well, 
I know not how, but so you see it is— 
Give me half an hour — nay, the half — the tithe 
Of such a time ! 

Arria. Pythias, indeed art ill ? 

Pyth. I'faith, I am — sick in the head and heart ! 
Bear with me, Arria; go among our guests, 
And cheat their notice of this accident; 
I shall be better quickly — well, quite well. 

Arria. The gods forefend it should fall otherwise ! [Exit 

Pyth. Oh, how these leaden-footed limping minutes 
Do lag and creep beneath my lashing wish ! 
When fiery expectation mounts the time, 
Time is a spiritless and jaded steed, 
That staggers 'neath his rider. Gracious gods ! 
Will none of them come to relieve this weight 
From my o'erloaded heart! — What shall I do? 
Calanthe ! 

Enter Calanthe. 

Cal. My dear Pythias ! 

Pyth. Calanthe! 

Cal. My mother whispered me you were not well ; 
And here, even as you see me, though you should not 
Have seen me in my bridal garments thus 
Till we were wedded — yet evea thus I come 
To speak with you, and comfort you, my Pythias. 

Pyth. Beshrew her heart, now, though she be thy mother, 
For such ill-timed and womanish whispering ! 
I am as well as I am happy, love. 

Cal. She said, too, but I heed it not — 

Pyth. What said she ? 

Cal. She prayed the gods your sickness might be free 
From surfeit sickness ; but I heed it not : 
You know I heed it not ; I cannot think 
Your heart is such a bad one, Pythias. 

Pyth. Tears, my Calanthe ! Ah, my own fair girl, 
The maiden pulse beating upon thy brow 



72 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Is not so faithful to its sister pulse, 

Which throbs within this little heart of thine. 

As I have been, and am !--Ha! dost thou smile? 

Now, by the gods ! I cannot see the smile, 

And tarry longer from the property 

Of this dear hand I grasp. Come, my Calanthe, 

They tarry for us, do they not? 

Cal. They do. 

Pyth. Nay, do not bend thy head, but let me gaze 
Upon thee as we go, that those fine looks, 
So full of life and joy, may banish from me 
The ghastly thought of death ! 

Cal. Death! 

Pyth. Nay, forgive me; 
I know not what I say. — Ye bounteous gods, 
Who guard the good, because yourselves are good, 
Wave your protecting arm around him! — Come — 
Oh, Friendship ! thou must yield it for a time 
To the torch-bearer, when he lights his fires 
From two such eyes as these are ! Come, Calanthe . 

[As they are going, Lucullus enters hastily. — Pythias lets fall 
Calanthe's hand and rushes to him. 

[To Lucullus. ~\ Where, sirrah, where? Where shall I speak with 
him? 

Luc. He did desire, my Lord, that I should lead you. 

Pyth. And not say where ? 

Luc. It was his charge, my lord. 

Pyth. In one word, say the hour and place of this, 
Or — ha ! I see it in thine eye — his life, 
His life is forfeit — he is doomed to death 

Luc. Alas ! my lord. 

Pyth. Oh, by the gods, it is so ! 
And, like a selfish coward, did I stand 
And saw him rush and singly front himself 
Against a host, when it was evident, 
As is the universal light of day, 
He must have perished in it — Coward ! coward ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



73 



He would not thus have done ! 

Luc. My lord — 
' Pyth. Speak not — 
I know thou would' st admonish me to speed, 
Or see him dead. 

Cal. Pythias! Pythias! {Grasps his arm. 

Pyth. Now let me go — away, I say ! 

Cal. Pythias! 

Pyth. I say, unloose me, or by all — 
Thou art as guilty, with thy blandishments, 
That did provoke this ruin, as I am 
For being tempted by thee ! — Woman, away ! {Throws her off. 

Cal. Unkind one ! 

Pyth. Ha ! thou weepest ! — Oh, Calanthe ! 
Forgive me — pity me — I am desperate ! 

I know not what I do — but — {Embraces her.] — Oh, Calanthe, 
There is a horrid fate that tears me hence. 
Now, sirrah, lead me on ! — Away ! away ! 

Cal. Pythias! Pythias! 

[Clings to Pythias as he rushes out, preceded by Lucullus. 

Scene IV. — A Dungeon. 
Damon discovered at a table, writing. 
Damon. Existence ! what is that ? a name for nothing ! 
It is a cloudy sky chased by the winds, — 
Its fickle form no sooner chosen than changed ! 
It is the whirling of the mountain-flood, 
Which, as, we look upon it, keeps its shape. 
Though what composed that shape, and what composes, 
Hath passed — will pass — may, and is passing on, 
Even while we think to hold it in our eyes, 
And deem it there. Fie ! fie ! a feverish vision, 
A crude and crowded dream, unwilled, unbidden, 
By the weak wretch that dreams it. [Noise of chains and bolts. 

Enter Procles and two Guards. 

Proc. Damon, thine hour is come. 
Damon. Past, sir, say past — to come, argues a stay 
Upon the coming. He has refused me, then, 



74 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Your general, Dionysius ! — the king — 
He has refused me even this little respite 
I asked of him ? 

Proc. All ! he refuses all. 

Damon. Did'st tell him why I asked it ? Did'st explain 
It was to have my wife warned here to Syracuse, 
From her near dwelling upon ^Etna's side. 
To see me ere I die? 

Proc. I said it, sir. 

Damon. And he refused it ? 

Proc. Ay, sir; he refused. 

Damon. Upon the instant ? 

Proc. Yes, upon the instant. 

Damon. Is he not wedded ? 

Proc. Yes. 

Damon. A father, too ? 

Proc. He is a father, too. 

Da?non. And he refused it? 
I will attend you, and I pray you pardon — 
This is no time to play the catechist. 
One little boon I have to beg of thee ; 
It is the last. I would not fain be irksome ; 
It is the last I shall prefer on earth 
Unto my fellow-men. This is my testament -. 
I pray thee give it to a friend of mine, 
Who may inquire about me : he will hold it, 
And use it for my wife. 

Proc. His name? 

Damon. It is — 
I did not wish to trust my coward tongue 
With utterance of that name ; I feared it would 
Pluck up all manhood by the roots ; but, sir, 
This now is childish ; Pythias, sir ! — 

[Proc/es retires and talks with the guards. 
Alas! 

To-day will prove a woful wedding-day 
To thee and thy Calanthe! — And my Hermion, 
My fond, poor Hermion, and my boy — 
Good Procles, — 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 75 

Let me not stand here talking idly thus — 
I am quite ready — on, sir ! I attend you ! 

[Exeunt Procles, Damon, and the guards. 



ACT III. 

Scene I. — A Street. 

Enter four guards and Procles with Damon in chains, followed 
by four 7nore guards. 

Damon. A moment's pause here, Procles. 

[Procles motions the guards to halt. 
We discoursed together 

Of an old friend of mine, who in all likelihood 
Would question thee concerning my last thoughts. 
While leaving this vain world; I do entreat thee, 
When thou shalt see that man, commend me to him, 
And say, a certainty of how true a friend 
And father he will be unto my wife 
And child — 

Pyth. Hold back ! It is impossible 
That ye can butcher him, till we speak together ! 

Enter Pythias, preceded by soldiers, who obstruct his way. 

I am his nearest friend ! I should receive 

His dying words — hold back ! [Breaks through them. 

Oh, Damon! Damon! 

Damon. I wished for this, but feared it, Pythias ! 
Tush! — we are men, my Pythias; we are men, 
And tears do not become us. 

Pyth. Doom and death 
In the same moment ! Is there no hope, Damon ? 
Is everything impossible? 

Da?non. For me, 
With Dionysius, everything — I craved 
But six hours' respite, that my wife may come, 
And see me — 

Pyth. And he would not ? 



j6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Damon. Not an hour — 
Yet to have kissed her, and my little boy — 
Just to have kissed her — 

Pyth. The cold villain ! 

Damon. Well, 
All that is o'er now, and this talk superfluous. 
Ere you came up, my friend, I was about 
To leave a greeting for you with the officer; 
I bade him say, too — for, despite of rules 
Well conned and understood, in such a time 
As this — so sudden, hopeless, and unlooked for, — 
The eye will water, and the heart grow cowardly, 
At thoughts of home, and things we love at home ; 
And something like a sorrow, or a fear, 
For what may happen them, will stick in the throat 
To choke our words and make them weak and womanish 

Pyth. Tears have a quality of manhood in them, 
When shed for what we love. 

Damon. I bade him say, 
That half my fear for her, and my young boy, 
As to their future fate, was banished, 
In the full certainty I felt of all 
The care and kindness thou wilt have of them 

Pyth. That was a true thought, Damon. 

Damon. Pythias, I know it. 
And when the shock of this hath passed away, 
And thou art happy with thy sweet Calanthe— 

Pyth. Damon! 

Damon. Well, Pythias? 

Pyth. Did' st thou not say 
It was thy last desire to look upon 
Thy wife and child, before — 

Damon. I would give up, — 
Were my life meted out by destiny 
Into a thousand years of happiness, — 
All that long measure of felicity, 
But for a single moment, in the which 
I might compress them to my heart. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. fj 

Pyth. Good Procles, 
Lead me at once to Dionysius — 
I mean, unto the king — that's his new name — 
Lead me unto the king — [Trumpet is heard.'] Ha! here he comes! 

Enter Dionysius and Damocles. 

Behold me, Dionysius, at thy feet ! [Kneels. 

As thou dost love thy wife, and thy sweet children ; 

As thou'rt a husband and a father, hear me ! 

Let Damon go and see his wife and child 

Before he dies — for four hours respite him — 

Put me in chains: plunge me into his dungeon, 

As pledge for his return ; do this — but this — 

And may the gods themselves build up thy greatness 

As high as their own heaven. [Rises. 

Dion. What wonder's this? 
Is he thy brother? 

Pyth. No, not quite my brother ! 
Not — yes, he is — he is my brother ! 

Dion. Damon — is this a quibble of thy school ? 

Damon. No quibble, for he is not so in kin, 
Not in the fashion that the word puts on, 
But brother in the heart ! 

Dion. [To Damon.] Didst urge him on 
To this? 

Pyth. By the gods, no ! 

Dion. And should I grant 
Thy friend's request, leaving thee free to go, 
Unwatched, unguarded, thou mak'st naught of it ; 
Quite sure that thou wilt come and ransom him, 
At the imminent time? 

Damon. Sure of it? Hearest thou, Heaven ? 
The emptiest things reverberate most sound, 
And hollow hearts have words of boisterous promise. 
I can say only — I am sure ! 

Dion. 'Tis granted. 

[Two officers take the chains off Damon, and place them on 
Pythias. 
How far abides thy wife from hence? 



78 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Damon. Four leagues. 

Dion. For six hours we defer thy death. Tis now 
The noon exactly; and at the sixth hour 
See that thou stand' st not far from him ; away ! 
Conduct that man to prison. 

Damon. Farewell, Pythias! 

Pyth. And farewell, Damon ! Not a word upon it. 
Speed thee. What, tears ? — Forbear. 

Damon. I did not think 
To shed one tear; but friendship like to thine — 

Pyth. Farewell! Come, officer. 

Damon. I pray thee, Procles, 
Give me the testament thou hadst of me. [Procles gives it to him. 
Pythias, thy hand again : Pythias, farewell ! » 

Pyth. Farewell! 

[Exeunt Damon, Pythias, Procles, and guards. 

Dion. Oh, by the wide world, Damocles, 
I did not think the heart of man was moulded 
To such a purpose. 

Dam. It is wondrous. 

Dion. Wondrous ! 
Sir, it doth win from the old imaginers 
Their wit and novelty ! — 
I'll visit Pythias in his dungeon : get me 
A deep disguise. We'll use such artifice 
As the time, and our own counsel, may suggest. — 
If they should triumph, crowns are nothingness — 
Glory is sound— and grandeur, poverty ! [Exeunt. 

Scene II. — Another Street. 
Enter Damon and Lucullus. 

Luc. Oh, my dear lord, my master, and my friend, 
The sight of you thus safe — 

Damon. Safe ! 

Luc. For at least 
A respite, my kind lord. 

Damon. No more, Lucullus. 
Is my horse ready ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 79 

Luc. Yes, the gallant grey, 
Of Anaxagoras, you lately purchased. [Exit 

Enter Calanthe. 

Cal. Hold, sir ! — is what they tell me true ? 

Damon. Calanthe, 
At any time save this thy voice would have 
The power to stay me. — Prithee, let me pass — 
Nor yet abridge me of that fleeting space 
Given to my heart. 

Cal. Speak ! have they said the truth ! 
Have you consented to put in the pledge 
Of Pythias' life for your return ? 

Damon. 'Tis better 
That I should say to her — ' Hermion, I die ?' 
Than that another should hereafter tell, 
' Damon is dead ! ' 

Cal. No ! you would say to her, 
' Pythias has died for me ' — even now the citizens 
Cried in mine ear, ' Calanthe, look to it !' 

Damon. And do you think I would betray him! 

Cal Think of it ? 
I give no thought upon it — Possibility, 
Though it should weigh but the least part of a chance 
Is quite enough — Damon may let him die — 
Ay, meanly live himself, and let him die ! 

Damon. Calanthe, I'll not swear. When men lift up 
Their hands unto the gods, it is to give 
Assurance to a doubt : But to confirm, 
By any attestation, the return 
Of Damon unto Pythias, would profane 

The sanctity of friendship — Fare the well. — [She clings to him. 
Nay, cling not to me. 

Cal. So will Hermion cling — 
But Damon will not so reject her. 
She will implore thee back to life again, 
And her loud cries will pierce thy inmost breast, 
And Pythias will be murdered ! 

Damon. I must unloose thy grasping. 



80 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Cal. Mercy, Damon ! 

Da?non. Unwillingly I stay thy struggling hands — 
Forgive me for't. 

Cal. Damon, have mercy on me ! 

Damon. May the gods bless thee ! [Exit. 

Cal. Damon, mercy, Damon ! 
He flies ! — and there's a voice that from my heart, 
As from the grave cries out, that never more 
He will return to Pythias. — Hermion — his child — 
And his own selfish instinct — or some accident 
May fall, and stay him back, and that will be 
The axe to Pythias ! — Oh, I will follow him — 
I'll tell him that; and, like a drowning wretch, 
Fasten about his neck, and cling to him ! 
But, ah ! — he flies — his steed is on the wind ! 
My evil demon wings him, and he tramps 
Already the wide distance ! — Pythias, 
The flowers in bridal mockery on my brow, 
Thus I rend off, and keep them for the grave ! 

Enter Dionysius, disguised. 

Dion. Thy name's Calanthe, and thou art the bride 
Of Pythias — is't not thus ? 

Cal. What dost thou come 
To say to me of Pythias ? 

Dion. Art thou not 
His bride ? 

Cal. The marriage-temple was prepared, 
The virgins' voices were sent up to Heaven, 
When death did all at once 
Rise up, and all that pomp did disappear, 
And for the altar, I behold the tomb — 
He never will return ! 

Dion. He will not. 

Cal. Ha! 
Dost thou confirm my apprehensions ? 
They were black enough already — and thy smile — 
It is the gloss upon the raven's plumes — 
Thy smile is horrible ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



81 



Dion. Calanthe, hear me : 
The tyrant Dionysius has resolved 
To intercept this Damon, and prevent 
His coming back to Syracuse. 

Cal. Oh, gods! 

Dion. I am an inmate in the tyrant's house, 
And learned his fell decree ! 

Cal. Then speed thee hence : 
Mount thou the fleetest steed in Syracuse — 
Pursue the unhappy Damon — tell him this : 
I know he has a brave and generous nature, 
Will not betray his friend ! Go after him, 
And save my husband ! 

Dion. I have found a way 
To rescue him already : thou and Pythias 
Shall fly from Syracuse. 

Cal. What! shall he 'scape 
The tyrant's fangs ? 

Dion. Forever ! — But thou must 
Follow my precept. 

Cal. I will obey you, sir, 
And bless you ! 

Dion. Then to Pythias — come with me. 



[Exeunt. 



Scene III. — A terrace attached to the prison, with the sea outstretched 
before it. — A portal on one side — on the other side, the dungeon- 
door of Pythias, barred and chained. 

Enter Dionysius, preceded by Procles, who points to the dungeon. 

Dion. Is this the dungeon? — Unbar the door. — 

[Procles undraws the bolts and lets fall the chains. 
I'll probe him deeply. — 
Now observe well the orders that I gave thee ! 

[Motions him away and opens the door. — Exit Procles. 
My lord, Pythias ! 

Pyth. [Within.] How now! who calls me? 
Dion. A friend, Pythias : the time is precious ; haste, 
And follow me. 



82 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Enter Pythias, from dungeofi. 

Pyth. Where do you lead me ? 

Dion. I come 
To serve and succor thee. 

Pyth. And who art thou? 
And how canst succor me ? 

Dion. I dwell beneath 
The tyrant's roof, and learned by accident 
This fell determination — he hath resolved — 

Pyth. My life ! 

Dion. Thy life! 
Ere this, he hath dispatched some twenty men 
To intercept thy friend on his approach 
To meet and ransom thee. 

Pyth. Almighty Heaven! 

Dion. He not arriving at the appointed hour, 
Thy life is forfeited. 

Pyth. We try the depth together ; I had hoped 
That one or other of us could have lived 
For thy poor Hermion's, or Calanthe's sake — 
No matter. 

Dion. Pythias, I came to save thee. 

Pyth. What dost thou mean? 

Dion. Urged by my pity for such noble friends, 
So trusting and betrayed — anxious, besides, 
To leave the tyrant's court, 
Hither I bribed my way. — Thy fair Calanthe 
Shall be the partner of thy flight.— Thy father— 

Pyth. Sir! 

Dion. Yes, thy father, too — thy time-struck father, 
Who, till this day, for many circling years 
Hath not held human intercourse, 
Was visited by me — he hath upraised him 
From his lonely bed. 

Pyth. Thou speak' st of miracles ! 

Dion. And ere I came, with all dispatch and secrecy, 
I have provided in the port of Syracuse 
A good, quick-sailing ship — yonder she lies, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 83 

Her sails already spread before the breeze, 
And thou and thy Calanthe — see, she comes — 
Haste, lady, haste to thy betrothed lord ! 
Pyth. Wide-working Heaven, Calanthe ? 

Enter Calanthe. 

Cal. Pythias! 
Though, when thou should' st have cherished, thou did'st spurn 

me, — 
Though, in the holy place where we had met 
To vow ourselves away unto each other, — 
Though there, when I was kneeling at thy feet, 
Thou didst forswear and mock at me — yet here 
I do forgive thee all — and I will love thee 
As never woman loved her young heart's idol. 
So thou but speed'st to safety! 

Pyth. Hold, Calanthe.— 
If mothers love the babe upon the breast, 
When it looks up with laughter in his eyes, 
Making them weep for joy — if they can love, 
I loved, and do love thee, my own Calanthe : 
But wert thou magnified above thyself, 
As much in fascination as thou art 
Above all creatures else — by all the gods, 
In awful reverence sworn, I would not cheat 
My honor ! 

Cal. How ! 

Dion. Madam, what dost intend ? 

Pyth. Dost thou not know the tyrant spared his life 
On the security I gave for him ? 
Stand I not here his pledge ? 

Dion. [Aside.] 'Tis wonderful ! 
His brow is fixed; his eye is resolute. 

Cal. Pythias, mine idolized and tender Pythias, 
Am I then scorned ? 

Dion. The tyrant doth break faith with thee. 

Pyth. 'Tis said so. 

Cal. And Damon cannot come to be thy ransom. 

Pyth. I have heard it, my Calanthe. 



84 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Cal. And that thou — 
That thou — Oh, gods ! — must die when he comes not ! 

Pyth. And that I know, Calanthe. 

Cal. If thou knowest it, 
What is thy heart, then, that it can still be obstinate ? 

Pyth. I should not have heard it ; or, having heard it, 
I still may hold it false. This busy world 
Is but made up of slight contingencies — 
There are a thousand that may alter this, 
Or leave it where it was ; there is not one 
Should push us a mere point from any pledge 
Of manliness and honor ! 
Yet would I live ! 

Live to possess my own Calanthe here, 
Who recommends existence with a smile 
So sad and beautiful ! — Yet would I live — 
But not dishonored ! — Still, Calanthe, he may return : 
May ! may ! — That word ends all ! Death looks but grimly, 
And the deep grave is cheerless — yet I do — 
I do prefer the certainty of death 
Unto the possibility of dishonor ! 

Dion. Behold! Behold! [Pointing off . 

The good ship hath her streaming signal out ! 
The canvas swells up to the wooing wind ! 
The boat puts off — now, now, or never ! 

Cal. See 
How swiftly, in her gallant liberty, 
She comes through the calm sea ! — Oh, hark ! the oars 
How rapidly they plash in harmony ! 
Oh, look at Freedom, Pythias, look at it ! 
How beautiful it is upon the sea ! 
Pythias, my Pythias — Oh ! how we shall laugh 
While bounding o'er the blessed wave that bears us 
From doom and death, to some fair Grecian isle ! 

Dion. See, they approach ! dost hesitate ? 

Cal. Pythias ! — my husband, Pythias ! 

Pyth. No ! no ! so help me heaven ! — 'Tis hard ! 
It plucks my heart up — but, no ! no ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 85 

Cal. Oh, gods ! 

[Pythias rushes into the dungeon — Calanthe falls into tlu arms 
of Dionysius. 

ACT IV. 

Scene I. — A garden. — A table with fruit laid out. 

Hermion discovered arranging a little feast. — Her Child beside her, 
with a basket of flowers. 

Child. Will he come soon home, mother ? 

Her. I pray the gods 
He may, my child. 

Child. It seems so long a time 
Since he has ta'en me on his knee, and kissed me. 

Her. Hark thee, my boy ! 
This is the hour wherein Lucullus said 
Thy father would arrive to visit us. 
Go, see if he be coming; he'll be glad 
To greet the rosy fruit upon thy cheeks, 
Even as he enters our sweet garden here. 
Hie thee, and bear me word if he approaches — 
The first kiss shall be thine. [Exit Child. 

Thou unkind Damon! 
To send me here to woman's loneliness, 
A prey to all the sickening hopes and fears 
I must have of thee, in these blustering times. 

Enter Damon with the Child in his arms. 

Child. See, I have found him for you, mother ! 

Her. Ha! 

Damon. Hermion ! my treasure, Hermion ! 

Her. My dear lord ! 
I had prepared this little feast for you, 
But hope at last grew sick within my heart, 
And I could hardly force it to a thought 
That yet thou wouldst arrive. Oft I looked out 
Upon the weary way thou shouldst have journeyed, 






86 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

And oft the hills' dim vapor rose like Damon, 
Till the sun came to shape it, and to show me 
That yet thou wert away. 

Damon. And are ye, then, 
Are ye so helpless in our absence, Hermion ? 

Her. Come, now — you know it. Oh, my dear, dear husband ! 
If I should tell thee of my quaking heart, 
While thou art bustling there in Syracuse — 
Why wilt thou start? — 'twould cheat thee of thy tears, 
And make thee womanish; and — for I know 
Thou lov'st thy own poor Hermion — thou shouldst swear 
Never again to leave her. 

Damon. Nerve me, Heaven ! 

Her. Indeed thou shouldst ! and look thee here, my Damon ! 
But for this little boy, here, and his talk, — 
His childish prattle on my knee, of what 
He would achieve and be — Come, sir, rehearse 
These matters over; say, what wouldst thou be? 

Damon. What wouldst thou be, my boy ? 

Child. A soldier, father. 

Damon. Come, come, now, not a soldier. 

Child. Nay, but I'd choose, sir, 
To be what Pythias is. 

Damon. [Much moved.] Thou'rt a brave boy ! 
Go pluck a flower from yonder gay recess, 
At the other end of the garden. Wreathe me now 
The fairest garland for my welcome — there — 
A brave, brave boy! — [Exit Child. 

[Aside.] Now, gods! 

Her. Dost thou not think 
He grows apace? 

Damo7i. Have I in all my life 
Given thee an angry look, or word, or been 
Ever an unkind mate, my Hermion ? 

Her. Never ! the gods know, never ! 

Damon. From thy heart 
Thou sayest this ? 

Her. Yea, from my inmost heart. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 87 

Damon. I am glad of it ; for thou wilt think of this 
When I am dead, my Hermion, and 'twill make thee 
The kindest mother to our boy ! 

Her. Oh, gods! 
Why dost thou talk of death ? Damon, thy cheek, 
Thy lip is quivering — art sick or grieved 
With some discomfiture ? Oh, these wild wars 
And bickerings of the state — how have they robbed thee 
Of thy soul's quiet. 

Damon. Tell me, tell me, Hermion, — 
Suppose I should impart the heaviest news 
That could possess thine ear : how wouldst thou bear it ? 

Her. Laugh at it ! — mock at it, to make thee smile, 
And teach thee to be happy in despite 
Of any turn of fortune. What dost thou mean ? 
What heavy news ? I know the part thou takest 
In the state's service. Hath the tyrant risen ? 

Damon. He hath ; but that's not it. 

Her. The Carthaginians 
Have sacked the city ? 

Damon. No ! 

Her. Why, then, thy friend, 
So well beloved of thee — Pythias ! — 'Tis he i 

Damon, No, thank the gods, not he ! 

Her. What is it, then ? — 
The heaviest news that could possess mine ear ! — 
Ha! 'tis thyself — some danger hath befallen thee, 
Or threatens thee. — Speak, my dear Damon, speak, 
Or I shall die of thoughts that come to kill me ! 

Damon. When I wooed thee, Hermion, 
'Twas not the fashion of thy face, or form — 
Though from the hand of Heaven thou earnest so rich 
In all external loveliness — it was not 
Such excellence that riveted my heart, 
And made me thine ; but I said to myself 
Thus : — Here is one, who, haply were I wrecked 
Or, were I to-morrow, or a later day, 
Struck down by fortune — 



88 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Her. Wert thou made as low 
From what thou art as earth's foundation-stone 
Is from the top of ^Etna — did men scorn thee — 

Damon. Nay, thus I said, my Hermion : — Did their scorn 
Fall deadly as it might — here is a woman 
Who hath such firm devotion in her love, 
She would not rend my heart, but for my sake, — 
And, should we have a child, for his sake, too — 
Bear firmly up, though death itself — 

Her. Death ! Death ! 

Damon, [Giving the Testament.] Take this — read this — 'twill 
speak what I cannot ! 
I thought I could, and by the gods I cannot ! 

Her. Ha! here's a poisoning adder in this scroll — 
It eats into my heart ! — Die ! Damon ! Death ! 
When ? how ? I cannot understand it — Die ! 
Where ? what offence ? 

Damon. I have been doomed to death by Dionysius. 

Her. But thou hast 'scaped the sentence ; thou art here 
Alone! unguarded! — It is but to fly 
To Greece, or Italy, or anywhere 
From this. 

Damon. From this to Syracuse. — I'll tell thee: 
Ere now I had been dead — 

Her. No ! no ! 

Damon. Ere this 
I had been dead, but that my friend, my Pythias, 
By putting on my fetters — giving up 
Himself as hostage for my sure return, — 
Wrought on the tyrant to bestow me time 
To see thee here. 

Her. By the wide world, thou shalt not ! 
I hold thee here — these arms encompass thee 
As doth thy heart its life-spring ! 

Damon. Not ! 

Her. Thou shalt not ! 

Damon. Not ! not return ! — Not go to take my friend 
Out of the fetters I have hung upon him ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



8 9 



Her. Life ! to save that, the wrong becomes the right. 
The gods that made us have so quickened us, 
Nature so prompts us, and all men forgive it, 
Because all men would do it. By the love — 
If thou hast any — of thy wife and child — [Kneels. 

Ay, frown — 

Enter Child, with flowers. 

Do Damon, frown, and kill me, too, 

Or live for us! [Sees the Child, who is approaching her. 

Ha ! the blessed gods have sent thee 

With thy sweet helplessness — Kneel down, my child, 

Hold up thy little hands with mine, and pray 

Not to be made an orphan — not so soon, 

So very soon ! — Kind Damon, look upon us ! 

Husband, look on us, we are at thy feet ! 

Damon. Ye are ! — I see it, and my heart bleeds for you. 
Nay, I must turn my eyes away from you 
While you are urging me to my dishonor, 
And bid me murder him that I may live ! 
Hermion, farewell! [Turning round and embracing her. 

Her. [In agony '.] Live, Damon! live! live! live! 

[Swoons in his arms. 

Damon. Hermion, my life, look up ! awake, my Hermion ! 
The hour is past ! I trifle with necessity ! 
Hermion ! I now indeed must part from thee, 
All pale, and cold, and death-like as thou art : 
Thus may I part from thee, to go and be 

Myself full soon as cold ! — [Places Hermion on the garden bench. 
Ah ! let me hold thee from the earth, and say 
With what a broken-hearted love I press thee 
For the last time ! [Kissing her. ] Farewell, farewell, forever! 
Once more ! 

Child. Father, father! 

Damon. My child, too ! — Oh, this is too much ! 
My little orphan! — my dear boy! the gods, 
The gods will take my care of thee, my child ! 

[Places Child near Hermion, and rushes out. 



90 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Scene II. — The Exterior of Damon's Villa. 

Enter Lucullus. 

Luc. It is accomplished ! I have slain his horse ! 
Never shall he return ! This hand has cast 
An intercept between him and the block ! 
Perchance he'll kill me — but I heed not that : — 
The time shall be, when, at Lucullus's name, 
He will lift up his hands, and weep for me. 
Ha! while I speak, he comes ! In desperate haste, 
He rushes from the garden ! Shall I fly 
From the swift fury will await upon 
The terrible revealment ? — 'Tis too late ! 

Enter Damon. 

Damon. 'Tis o'er, Lucullus; bring thou forth my horse! 
I have stayed too long, Lucullus, and my speed 
Must leave the winds behind me. By the gods, 
The sun is rushing down the west ! 

Luc. My lord — 

Damon. Why dost thou .tremble ? Fetch the color back 
Into thy cheek, man, nor let thy weak knees 
Knock on each other in their cowardice ! 
Time flies — be brief — go bring my horse to me ! 
Be thou as swift as speech, or as my heart is ! 

Luc. My lord ! — 

Damon. Why, slave, dost hear me ? 
My horse, I say ! The hour is past already, 
Whereon I bade old Neucles summon me. 

Luc. My generous master, do not slay me ! 

Damon. Slave ! 
Art mad ? or dost thou mock me in the last 
And most fearful extremity ? — Yet you speak not ! 

Luc. You were ever kind and merciful, nor yet 
Commended me unto the cruel whip, 
And I did love you for it ! 

Damon. Where's my horse ? 

Luc. When I beheld the means of saving you, 
I could not hold my hand — my heart was in it, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 9 1 

And in my heart, the hope of giving life 
And liberty to Damon ; and — 

Damon. Go on ! 
I am listening to thee ! 

Luc. And, in hope to save you. 
I slew your steed ! 

Damon. Almighty Heavens ! 

Luc. Forgive me ! [Kneels. 

Damon. I am standing here to see if the great gods 
Will with their lightning execute my prayer 
Upon thee ! But thy punishment be mine ! 
I'll tear thee into pieces ! [Seizes him. 

Luc. Spare me ! Spare me ! 
I saved thy life. Oh, do not thou take mine ! 

Damon. My friend! my friend! Oh, that the word would 
kill thee ! 
Pythias is slain ! — his blood is on my soul ! 
He cries, where art thou, Damon ? Damon, where art thou ? 
And Damon's here ! — The axe is o'er his neck, — 
And in his blood I'm deluged ! 

Luc. Spare me ! Spare me ! 

Damon. A spirit cries, ' ' Revenge and Sacrifice ! " 
I'll do it— I'll do it— Come— 

Luc. Where should I go ? 

Damon. To the eternal river of the dead ! 
The way is shorter than to Syracuse — 
'Tis only far as yonder yawning gulf — 
I'll throw thee with one swing to Tartarus, 
And follow after thee! — Nay, slave, no struggling! 
Pythias is grown impatient ! His red ghost 
Starts from the ground, and, with a bloody hand, 
Waves to the precipice ! 

Luc. Have mercy ! 

Damon. Call 
For mercy on the Furies — not on me ! 

[Exit, dragging Lucullus. 



92 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



ACT V. 

Scene I. — A public place in Syracuse. — A scaffold, with steps as- 
cending to it. — The gates of a prison. — Executioner with an 
axe, and Guards discovered. 

Damocles and Procles discovered. 

Proc. It is a marvellous phantasy, thou speakest of, 
In Dionysius. 

Dam. Yes, his mind is made 
Of strange materials, that are almost cast 
In contrariety to one another. 
The school and camp, in his ambition, make 
A strange division; "with the trumpet's call 
" He blends the languor of the poet's lyre ! 
" The fierce, intrepid captain of the field 
' ' Hath often, on the great Athenian stage, 
' ' Coped with the mightiest monarchs of the Muse ; 
' ' And, in mine apprehension, he doth prize 
' ' The applauses of that polished populace 
' ' More than the rising shout of victory. 

Proc. ' ' And, over all, that science, which doth hold 
" Touching the soul and its affections, 
" Its high discoursing, hath attracted him. " 
It is his creed, that, in this flesh of ours, 
Self ever entertains predominance ; 
And to all friendship he hath ever been 
A persevering infidel. For this, 
Belike, he tries a strange experiment. 
What sayest thou ? Will Damon come again ? 

Dam. " Our love of life is in the very instinct 
' ' Of mere material action, when we do 
' ' Even so slight a thing as wink an eye 
' ' Against the wind. Place me a soulless dog 
" Upon the bare edge of a height, and he 
" Shall shudder and shrink back, though none have proved 
" To his capacity that the fall were dangerous." 
I hold the thing impossible. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 93 

Proc. He'll not ! 

Dam. What, when he feels his pent-up soul abroad, 
His limbs unfettered, ' ' and the mountain-breeze 
' ' Of liberty all around him, and his life 
" Or death upon his own free choice dependent ? " 
'Tis visionary! 

Proc. But is there no hope 
Of Dionysius' mercy ? 

Dam. He'll not give 
A second's hundredth part to take a chance in. 
' ' His indignation swells at such a rashness, 
" That, in its fling of proud philosophy, 
" Can make him feel so much out-soared and humbled." 
What a vast multitude upon the hills 
Stretch their long blackening outline in the round 
Of the blue heavens ! 

Proc. They wait the great event. 
' ' Mute expectation spreads its anxious hush 
" O'er the wide city, that as silent stands 
"As its reflection in the quiet sea." 
Behold upon the roof what thousands gaze 
Toward the distant road that leads to Syracuse ! 
An hour ago a noise was heard afar, 
Like to the pulses of the restless surge ; 
But as the time approaches, all grows still 
As the wide dead of midnight ! 

Calanthe. [Without.] There's no power 
Shall stay me back ! I must behold him die, 
Then follow him ! 

Enter Calanthe, followed by Arria. 

Arria. My child ! 

Cal. I cannot hear thee ! 
The shrieking of the Furies drowns thy cries ! 

Arria. This is no place for thee — no place, Calanthe, 
For such a one as thou ! 

Cal. No other place 
Is fit for such a wretch ! I am his wife 
Betrothed, though not married. There's no place 



94 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

For me but at his side : in life or death 
There is no other. 

There is the scaffold with the block on it ! 
There is the — Oh, good gods ! 

Arria. Come back, my child ! 
' ' Good Damocles, give me your aid to bear 
' ' This wretched woman hence. 

Cal. " Oh, mother, mother, 
' ' I'll not be grudged that horrible delight ! 
' ' I'll take one long and maddening look of him, 
' ' Whom in the morn I thought I should have waited, 
' ' Blushing within the chamber of a bride, 
* ' And with a heart all full of love and fear. 
' ' Now I await him in a different place, 
" And with a cheek that ne'er shall blush again ; 
" Whose marble may be spotted o'er with blood, 
" But not with modesty : love yet remains, 
" But fear, its old companion's fled away, 
" And made room for despair ! " 

Enter Dionysius, still in disguise. 

Ha ! are you come ? 

'Twas you that told me so, 

And froze the running currents in my bosom, 

To one deep cake of ice ! You said too well 

That Damon would not come. — The selfish traitor ! 

The traitor Damon ! 

Dion. Hark thee, Calanthe ! 
It was an idle tale I told to thee ! 

Cal. Ha! 

Dion. A mere coinage, an invention. 

Cal. I do not ask thee why that tale was framed — 
Framed in thy cold, deliberate cruelty — 
But only this one question : — May he yet — 
May Damon yet return ? 

Dion. He may — he is 
As free to come, or stay, as are the winds, 

Cal. And Dionysius withholds him not? 

Dion. He does not. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 95 

Cal. Whatsoe'er thou art, the gods, 
For that one word, be unto thee and thine 
Guardians forever ! — Oh, that ray of hope 
That breaks upon my soul is worth a flood 
Of the sweet daylight of Elysium ! 
Damon may yet return ! — But, powers of Heaven ! 
Death is prepared already ! — What is the time ? 

Dion. Thou may'st perceive by yonder dial-plate 
Against the temple, six poor minutes only 
Are left for his return. 

Cal. And yet he comes not ! 
Oh, but that temple, where the shade of time 
Moves unrelentingly, is dedicate 
To the great Goddess of Fidelity — 
She will not, in the face of her high fane, 
Let such a profanation hurl forever 
The altars of her worship to the ground ; 
For who will offer incense to her name 

If Damon's false to Pythias ? [Sound of chains and bolts. 

Ha! they unbar 

The ponderous gates ! — There is a clank of chains ! 
They are leading him to death ! 

Dam. Bring forth the prisoner ! 

The gates of the prison are flung open, and Pythias is discovered. 
JTe advances to the scaffold. 

Cal. Pythias! 

Pyth. Calanthe here ! [She rushes into his arms.] My poor, 
fond girl ! 
Thou art the first to meet me at the block, 
Thou'lt be the last to leave me at the grave ! 
How strangely things go on in this bad world — 
This was my wedding-day ; but for the bride, 
I did not think of such a one as death ! 
I deemed I should have gone to sleep to-night — 
This very night — not on the earth's cold lap — 
But, with as soft a bosom for my pillow, 
And with as true and fond a heart-throb in it 
To lull me to my slumber, as e'er yet 






96 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Couched the repose of love. It was, indeed, 
A blissful sleep to wish for! 

Cal. Oh, my Pythias, 
He yet may come ! 

Pyth. Calanthe, no ! Remember 
That Dionysius hath prevented it. 

Cal. That was an idle tale of this old man, 
And he may yet return ! 

Pyth. May yet return ! 
Speak! — how is this ? return ! — Oh, life, how strong 
Thy love is in the hearts of dying men ! 

[To Dionysius. ~\ Thou'rt he; didst say the tyrant would prevent 
His coming back to Syracuse ? 

Dion. I wronged him. 

Pyth. Ha ! were it possible ! — may he yet come ! 

Cal. Into the sinews of the horse that bears him 
Put swiftness, gods ! — let him outrace and shame 
The galloping of clouds upon the storm ! 
Blow breezes with him; lend every feeble aid 
Unto his motion ! — and thou, thrice solid earth, 
Forget thy immutable fixedness — become 
Under his feet like flowing water, and 
Hither flow with him ! 

Pyth. I have taken in 
All the horizon's vast circumference 
That, in the glory of the setting sun, 
Opens its wide expanse, yet do I see 
No signal of his coming! — Nay, 'tis likely — 
Oh, no — he could not ! It is impossible ! 

Cal. I say he is false ! he is a murderer ! 
He will not come ! the traitor doth prefer 
Life, ignominious, dastard life ! — Thou minister 
Of light, and measurer of eternity 
In this great purpose, stay thy going down, 
Great sun, behind the confines of the world ! 
On yonder purple mountains make thy stand ! 
For while thine eye is opened on mankind, 
Hope will abide within thy blessed beams — 
They dare not do the murder in thy presence ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 97 

Alas ! all heedless of my frantic cry, 

He plunges down the precipice of Heaven. 

Pythias — Oh, Pythias! 

Pyth. I could have borne to die, 
Unmoved, by Dionysius — but to be torn 
Green from existence by the friend I loved, — 
Thus from the blossoming and beauteous tree 
Rent by the treachery of him I trusted ! 
No ! no ! I wrong thee, Damon, by that half thought — 
Shame on the foul suspicion ! he hath a wife, 
And child, who cannot live on earth without him, 
And Heaven has flung some obstacle in his way 
To keep him back, and lets me die, who am 
Lest worthy, and the fitter. 

Proc. Pythias, advance! 

Cal. No, no ! why should he yet ? It is not yet — 
By all the gods, there are two minutes only ! 

Proc. Take a last farewell of your mistress, sir, 
And look your last upon the setting sun — 
And do both quickly, for your hour comes on ! 

Pyth. Come here, Calanthe ! closer to me yet ! 

[Embraces her. 
Ah ! what a cold transition it will be 
From this warm touch, all full of life and beauty, 
Unto the clammy mould of the deep grave ! 
I prithee, my Calanthe, when I am gone, 
If thou shouldst e'er behold my hapless friend, 
Do not upbraid him. This, my lovely one, 
Is my last wish — remember it ! 

Cal. Hush! Hush! 
Stand back there ! 

Pyth. Take her, you eternal gods, 
Out of my arms into your own ! — Befriend her ! 
And let her life glide on in gentleness, 
For she is gentle, and doth merit it. 

Cal. I think I see it — 

Proc. Lead her from the scaffold ! 

Pyth. Arria, receive her ! — yet one kiss — farewell ! 
Thrice — thrice farewell ! — I am ready sir. 



Q8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Cal. Forbear! 
There is a minute left : look there ! look there ! 
But 'tis so far off, and the evening shades 
Thicken so fast, there are no other eyes 
But mine can catch it— Yet, 'tis there ! I see it — 
A shape as yet so vague and questionable, 
'Tis nothing, just about to change and take 
The faintest form of something ! 

Pyth. Sweetest love ! 

Dam. Your duty, officer. [Officer approaches her. 

Cal. I will not quit him 
Until ye prove I see it not ! — no force 
Till then shall separate us. 

Dam. Tear them asunder ! 
Arria, conduct your daughter to her home. 

Cal. Oh, send me not away — Pythias, thine arms — 
Stretch out thine arms, and keep me ! — see, it comes ! 
Barbarians ! — Murderers ! — Oh, yet a moment — 
Yet but one pulse — one heave of breath ! Oh, heavens ! 

[Swoons, and is carried away by Arria and Officers. 

Pyth. [To the Executioner, .] There is no pang in thy deep 
wedge of steel 
After that parting. — Nay, sir, you may spare 
Yourself the pains to fit me for the block. — 

[Drawing the lining of his tunic lower. 
Damon, I do forgive thee ! — I but ask 
Some tears unto my ashes ! 

[A distant shout is heard — Pythias leaps up on the scaffold. 
By the gods, 

A horse and horseman ! — Far upon the hill, 
They wave their hats, and he returns it — yet 
I know him not — his horse is at the stretch ! [A shout. 

Why should they shout as he comes on ? It is — 
No ! — that was too unlike — but there, now — there ! 
Oh, life, I scarcely dare to wish for thee ; 
And yet — that jutting rock has hid him from me — 
No! — let it not be Damon! — he has a wife 
And child ! — gods ! — keep him back ! — [Shouts. 

Damon. [Without .] Where is he ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 99 

Damon rushes in, and stands for a moment, looking round. 
Ha! 
He is alive ! untouched ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! 

[Falls with an hysterical laugh — loud shouts without. 

Pyth. The gods do know I could have died for him ! 
And yet I dared to doubt ! — I dared to breathe 
The half-uttered blasphemy ! [Damon is raised up. 

He faints! — How thick 

This wreath of burning moisture on his brow ! 
His face is black with toil, his swelling bulk 
Heaves with swift pantings. Damon, my dear friend ! 

Damon. Where am I ? Have I fallen from my horse, 
That I am stunned, and on my head I feel 
A weight of thickening blood ! — What has befallen me ? 
The horrible confusion of a dream 
Is yet upon my sight. — For mercy's sake, 
Stay me not back — he is about to die ! 
Pythias, my friend ! Unloose me, villains, or 
You'll find the might of madness in mine arm ! 
[Sees Pythias.] Speak to me; let me hear thy voice! 

Pyth. My friend ! 

Damon. It pierced my brain, and rushed into my heart ! 
There's lightning in it! — That's the scaffold — there 
The block — the axe — the executioner ! 
And here he lives ! — I have him in my soul ! 
[Embraces Pythias] Ha ! ha ! ha ! 

Pyth. Damon! 

Damon. Ha! ha! 
I can but laugh ! — I cannot speak to thee ! 
I can but play the maniac, and laugh ! 
Thy hand! — Oh, let me grasp thy manly hand! — 
It is an honest one, and so is mine ! 
They are fit to clasp each other ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! 

Pyth. Would that my death could have preserved thee ! 

Damon. Pythias, 
Even in the very crisis to have come, — 
To have hit the very forehead of old time ! 
By heavens ! had I arrived an hour before 
I should not feel this agony of joy — 



IOO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

This triumph over Dionysius ! 

Ha ! ha J — But didst thou doubt me ? Come, thou didst — 

Own it, and I'll forgive thee. 

Pyth. For a moment. 

Damon. Oh, that false slave ! — Pythias, he slew my horse, 
In the base thought to save me ! I would have killed him, 
And to a precipice was dragging him, 
When, from the very brink of the abyss 
I did behold a traveler afar, 
Bestriding a good steed. — I rushed upon him, 
Choking with desperation, and yet loud 
In shrieking anguish, I commanded him 
Down from his saddle ; he denied me — but 
Would I then be denied ? As hungry tigers 
Clutch their poor prey, I sprang upon his throat : 
Thus, thus, I had him, Pythias ! Come, your horse, 
Your horse, your horse, I cried. Ha ! ha ! ha ! 

Dion. [Advancing and speaking in a loud tone.] Damon ! 

Damon. [Jumping on the scaffold.} I am here upon the scaf- 
fold ! look at me ! 
I am standing on my throne ; as proud a one 
As yon illumined mountain, where the sun 
Makes his last stand ; let him look on me too ; 
He never did behold a spectacle 
More full of natural glory. Death is — [Shouts. .] Ha! 
All Syracuse starts up upon her hills, 

And lifts her hundred thousand hands. [Shouts.] She shouts ! 
Hark, how she shouts! [Shouts.] Oh, Dionysius! 
When wert thou in thy life hailed with a peal 
Of hearts and hands like that one ? Shout again ! [Shouts. 

Again ! [Shouts] until the mountains echo you, 
And the great sea joins in that mighty voice, 
And old Euceladus, the Son of Earth, 
Stirs in his mighty caverns. [Shouts.] Tell me, slaves, 
Where is your tyrant? Let me see him now; 
Why stands he hence aloof? Where is your master? 
What is become of Dionysius? 
I would behold, and laugh at him ! 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



roi 



[Dionysius advances between Damon and Pythias — Damon 
being on the scaffold — and throws off his disguise. 
Dion. Behold me. 
Dam. and Pyth. How ? 
■ Dion. Stay your admiration for awhile, 
Till I have spoken my commandment here, 
Go, Damocles, and bid a herald cry 
Wide through the city, from the eastern gate 
Unto the most remote extremity, 
That Dionysius, tyrant as he is, 
Gives back his life to Damon. [Exit Damocles. 

Pyth. How, Dionysius? 
Speak that again ! 

Dion. I pardon him. 
Pyth. Oh, gods! 
You give his life to Damon ? 
Dion. Life and freedom ! 
[Shouts and drums. Damon staggers from the scaffold into 
the arms of Pythias. 

THE END. 



A 






t i 


S- 


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102 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER V. 




Origin of the Knights of Pythias — Declaration of Principles — Found- 
ers, Declaration of the Supreme Lodge as to—" Brief Sketch" — 
Affidavit of Authentication — Justus Henry Rathbone — Robert 
Allen Champion — Wm. Henry Burnett — David L. Burnett — 
Edward Sullivan Kimball. 



GIVEN thus briefly the history of the 
land and the people that gave birth to 
Damon and Pythias, and the story, 
both historic and poetic, of those two 
sworn friends, we will here enter upon an 
era in which we are all more deeply interested. 
Having at the outset declared our faith in and 
love for secret fraternal or benevolent societies, we come 
now to those of our own day, and especially to the origin 
of the modern organization of the Knights of Pythias. 

As a society it had its birth, development, and now 
has its steadily increasing growth, in the hearts, minds 
and actions of the noble-souled men of this grandly pro- 
gressive nation, reaching out and spreading, like the ever- 
widening circles of ocean waves, until ultimately, we be- 
lieve, it will have reached every shore with its benefi- 
cence. The wonderful harvest of good that has thus 
far crowned its work is found in the ripe, golden fruits 
of genuine sympathy for humanity, carried into every-day 
life and wrought into actual realities for man's good. 
The noble deeds and practical work of modern Pythian- 
ism has been, and is to-day, helping to make a better 
history for our nation, for the world, for humanity. 
Wherever our Castle Halls have been, or shall be, estab- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



I03 



lished, the pages of that history, as it is now read, or 
shall be in the hereafter, will have recorded thereon, in 
words of light and love, deeds that had their origin in 
that spirit of loving Friendship, Charity and Benevolence 
so beautifully taught in our Book of Laws— God's revealed 
word to man. 

The history of America has not, like the nations of 
the old world, the charm of classical and legendary asso- 
ciations entwined about it. In this fair land no moss- 
covered ruins, nor ivy-clad towers crumbling into decay, 
are found by the antiquarian, from which the poet may 
weave mysterious legend or bewitching verse. Our fields 
are bright and green in the early spring morning of our 
history ; her institutions and her temples are structures of 
the living present; her fruits are found in the bountiful 
harvest that has come from the casting of the bread of 
charity on this great sea of humanity, returning thus early 
to enrich and beautify, not the outside world alone, but 
also the hearts and minds of men and women of society 
at large. 

Her history is full of fresh life, vigorous youth, and 
the strength and daring of manhood in its prime, wherein 
all are free to follow the noblest impulses of the soul ; her 
foundations laid, and the superstructure built thereon, by 
the sturdy blows and heroic daring of her sons, and her 
homes made bright and happy by the patient bearing of 
hardships, perils and privation by her daughters. 

This nation is to us, and for all mankind, a new and 
beautiful temple, complete in its formation, commemo- 
rating the lives, achievements and public spirit of the 
truly praiseworthy in the world's great battle for human 
rights and man's betterment; not yet grown to its 
highest limit, but gathering strength and spreading its 
branches farther and farther, year by year. So has it 
been with this vigorous American Order of Knights of 
Pythias, and the history of the two are not so greatly 
dissimilar. 



104 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

We do not, as does Masonry, have clustering about 
our shrine the clinging ivy of centuries' growth, nor is 
there yet wreathed about our altars the mysterious legends 
reaching back into the dim and misty ages of the long 
ago. We come with present relief for man's present 
necessities. 

Amid the stirring scenes, within hearing of the thun- 
ders of the artillery and the rattle of the musketry of the 
terrible war that desolated homes, laid waste the once fer- 
tile valleys, and filled the entire nation with mourning, 
from 1 86 1 to 1865, may be found the birthplace and natal 
day of this modern Order. When war was holding high 
carnival, when all the lessons of friendship in the world's 
history seemed well-nigh forgotten, when men had learned 
distrust instead of confidence, when avarice held the place 
of charity and benevolence, then it was that the Order of 
Knights of Pythias rose, like the Star of the East, and 
once more proclaimed "Good will to man." 

" 'Twas a night dark and gloomy, and the blood of brothers slain 
Had our country's altar overflown, leaving dread and awful stain, 
And a crimson, gory curtain, heavy, dripping wet, 
Had veiled our nation's temple, when a few good brothers met. 

" 'Mid the roar of deadly cannon and the clash of cruel steel, 
They planned our beauteous temple, with a grand, heroic zeal — 
With a prayer to the God of heaven, in the font of living grace, 
There they christened our loved Order, and vouchsafed it to the race." 

The time may have seemed inauspicious for the estab- 
lishment of an Order, with any hope of its taking root 
and growing into any very great proportions, much less 
for its becoming a permanent organization and spreading 
out its branches until the brotherhood to-day are resting 
within its refreshing shade in every state and territory of 
the United States, into the British Possessions, and in the 
islands of the sea. 

Most beautifully did those brave men announce the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 105 

fundamental principles of the Order they there founded 
and christened " The Knights of Pythias." 

" Founded on naught but the purest and sincerest 
motives, its aim is to alleviate the suffering of a brother, 
succor the unfortunate, zealously watch at the bedside of 
the sick, soothe the dying, perform the last sad rites at 
the grave of a brother, offering consolation to the afflicted, 
and caring for the widow and the orphan. Having these 
principles in view, we will endeavor to exemplify them by 
practical tests ; and if, by the grace of God, it shall suc- 
cessfully carry out this object, they will feel that their 
mission has not been in vain." 

Noble words were these, and fitly spoken, and most 
wonderfully have they been lived up to in letter and spirit 
by the founders and those who have come after. How 
sweetly and soothingly, amidst all the harsh and discordant 
words that at that time were heard, must these fraternal 
words have fallen on the ear ! It was as if a chime of 
silver bells, attuned to harmony and peace, had suddenly 
taken the place of the blaring bugle and rolling drum. It 
was to be a fraternity that meant loyalty to a brother even 
unto death. Soldiers and citizens as they were who 
founded this Society, most fitting it was that they should 
take as their prototypes the soldier and citizen senator 
of ancient Syracuse, pledging each to the other a friend- 
ship that was to be as lasting as life itself; that would, 
if need be, guard, defend and save the life of a brother, 
though death met the defender face to face ; a friendship 
that was not to be bartered or sold, a loyalty that could 
not doubt the loyalty of a brother, a solemn remembrance 
of a promise once given, and a realization that the 
promise bound one's honor to its faithful performance. 
Realizing all these things, how much more fitting it was 
that they should make their great exemplars the soldier, 
hot-blooded and passionate, but true as the blade he carried, 
and the dignified and noble-souled senator — Damon and 



I06 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Pythias, of ancient Sicily. These are our prototypes — 
these the men whose virtues we are taught to emulate, 
and whose faithfulness and devotion, one to the other, are 
to be the rule and guide of our lives as brothers. 

These being the principles on which the Order of 
Knights of Pythias was founded, our first question to be 
asked is, who was the founder, and who his associates in 
the work of preparing the design, laying the foundation, 
and erecting thereon the beautiful Pythian temple ? 

This question must be answered by the highest author- 
ity known to our Order — the Supreme Lodge Knights of 
Pythias — and although this question was settled twelve 
years after the Knights of Pythias was born to the world, 
yet at this point in our work is the place to record it, 
even though we do retrace our steps in the further prose- 
cution of our self-appointed task. 

At the session of the Supreme Lodge held in the city 
*\\* of Philadelphia in i8$6, Supreme Representative Foxwell, 
of the District of Columbia, presented for and in the 
name of Calanthe Lodge, No. n, K. of P., of the Grand 
Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, to the Supreme 
Lodge, a memorial picture of the founder of the Order, J. 
H. Rathbone, and a sketch of the original history of the 
Order. This sketch, on motion of Representative Oyler, 
of Indiana, was referred to a special committee for exam- 
ination and verification. The sketch was prepared by 
Bro. J. H. Rathbone, and the original parties to whom 
the obligation was first administered by Bro. Rathbone, 
and the work was verified by the affidavits of the parties. 
Connected with this sketch was also a brief outline biogra- 
phy of the first members of the Order — Rathbone, Cham- 
pion, W. H. and D. L. Burnett, and Kimball. 

The special committee appointed consisted of Past 
Supreme Chancellor Read, Representative Lindsay (after- 
ward Supreme Chancellor), of Maryland, and Supreme 
Master at Arms Latham. Later in the session Past 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. IOJ 

Supreme Chancellor Read, on behalf of the committee, 
made the following report, which was adopted: 

" Your committee, to whom was referred the brief 
history as to the Founder of the Order of Knights of 
Pythias, beg leave to report that they have had before 
them Bro. J. H. Rathbone, and also J. T. K. Plant, who 
has been represented as one of the founders of the Order ; 
and upon the statement of Past Supreme Chancellor 
J. T. K. Plant, your committee are fully satisfied Past 
Supreme Chancellor Justus H. Rathbone is entitled to the 
honor of being the Founder of the Order of Knights of 
Pythias ; and offer the following resolution : 

"Resolved, That the documents presented to the Supreme Lodge, 
purporting to be a brief origin of the Order, and Justus H. Rathbone 
as sole Founder, be fully recognized as such by this Supreme Lodge 
of the World. 

(Signed) "Samuel Read, 

(< G. W. Lindsay, 
"Hugh Latham." 

The history and biographical sketches are indeed brief, 
and I give them, title and all, as presented to the Supreme 
Lodge at that time, as follows : 

"A Brief Sketch of the Original History of the 
Order of Knights of Pythias. 

( ' The original meeting at which the Ritual of the 
Order of K. of P. was first read, and the primary steps 
taken to establish the Order, was held in Mr. Robert A. 
Champion's room, 369 (old number) F Street, near the 
corner of Ninth Street, in the City of Washington, D. C, 
on the evening of February 15, 1864. There were present 
on this occasion Mr. J. H. Rathbone, Mr. Robert A. 
Champion, Mr. D. L. Burnett, Mr. E. S. Kimball, Mr. 
W. H. Burnett, Mr. Chas. H. Roberts, and Mr. Driver, 
members (with the exception of Mr. Champion) of a 
vocal society called the Arion Glee Club. At a previous 



108 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

meeting of the club Mr. Rathbone had stated to these 
gentlemen that he had in his possession the ritual of a 
secret society which he had written some time before 
while teaching school in the Lake Superior country, and 
which he was desirous of now ushering into existence. 
Mr. Champion, to whom Mr. Rathbone had read his ritual 
while both of them were engaged at the U. S. A. General 
Hospital, Germantown, Pa., in 1863, strongly urged the 
formation of a society, to be known as a mutual protec- 
tion association, among the clerks of the several depart- 
ments of the City of Washington, its members to consist 
of only those in clerical employment. After mutual 
confab on the matter, it was concluded to defer further 
action until the next meeting of the club, February 15th, 
at which time, after the usual vocal rehearsal, Mr. Rath- 
bone produced his ritual and a small Bible. Each of the 
gentlemen above named were obligated upon this Bible not 
to reveal that which was about to be imparted to them, 
and immediately afterward Mr. Rathbone began the read- 
ing of his work. After having finished the opening and 
closing ceremonies, Messrs. Roberts and Driver, having a 
previous engagement, asked to be excused, and left the 
room, promising, however, to abide by any action the 
others might take in their absence. Upon conclusion of 
the reading of the ritual it was resolved that each gen- 
tleman present should consider himself a committee of 
one for the purpose of inviting such of his fellow clerks as 
he deemed would be acceptable to join with the club in 
forming the Order. At this time arrangements had just 
been consummated by the club to take one of the lower 
rooms in the Temperance Hall Building, on E Street, 
between Ninth and Tenth, for their rehearsals, and it was 
resolved that if a sufficient number of members could be 
obtained that the meeting should be called on the follow- 
ing Friday evening at this hall, the club to call its rehearsal 
at 6 p. m., so as to enable the gentlemen to meet at or 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. IOO, 

about 8 o'clock. At the meeting held Friday evening all 
present were clerks in the departments, with the exception 
of Mr. Plant, who had been invited by Mr. Rathbone and 
Mr. Champion, on the Wednesday following the original 
meeting, to join the order.* 

"At the meeting held February 19, 1864, owing to the 
lateness of the hour, only the opening and closing ceremo- 
nies and the initiatory (now first) degree were read. The 
second and third degrees were left to a committee ap- 
pointed by Mr. Rathbone, the W. C. of the Lodge. The 
committees appointed were as follows: On the second 
degree — E. S. Kimball, R. A. Champion, J. T. K. Plant, 
W. H. Burnett, and J. H. Rathbone; on the third 
degree— J. R. Woodruff, D. L. Burnett, and J. H. Rath- 
bone. 

' ' The degrees already prepared by Mr. Rathbone were 
submitted to the committees, and, with the exception of 
an addition to the third degree, suggested by Mr. Wood- 
ruff, were approved as read, duly reported to the Lodge, 
and adopted." 

The history of Washington Lodge No. 1, and the rise 
and progress of the Order, has already been published, 
and will be given in its order in this present work. 

* It may be well to state the reason of this exception to the rule 
made relative to members. Messrs. Rathbone and Champion had seen 
Mr. Plant officiate in a certain office in a Tribe of Red Men they were 
visiting some weeks previous, and were so impressed by the manner in 
which Mr. P. fulfilled his duties that it was thought if he would take 
hold of this new enterprise he would be a most valuable accession in the 
position of V. P., then the third office in the Lodge. Mr. Plant ac- 
cepted the invitation, and the programme, at Mr. Rathbone's suggestion, 
was carried out. 



iio pythian knighthood. 

"Copy of the Affidavit Authenticating the Found- 
ership of the order of knights of pythias. 

' ' District of Columbia, I ^ 
Washington County. / 
"The undersigned, who were present at the first read- 
ing of the first, second, and third degrees of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias, which took place in the house No. 
369 F Street, near the corner of Ninth Street, in the City of 
Washington, D. C, on Monday evening, the 15th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, do make this, their voluntary statement, to wit: 
That Justus Henry Rathbone, of the City of Washington 
and District of Columbia, is the sole and only originator 
and Founder of the Order of Knights of Pythias ; that the 
work was complete when read to us as above ; that at the 
committee meetings, of which we were members, nothing 
was done except to re-read the work as originally prepared 
by said J. H. Rathbone, and indorse it. No changes were 
made. Mr. Joel R. Woodruff suggested an addition to 
the third, or Knight Degree, which was accepted. The 
impression which prevails that Joseph T. K. Plant is the 
founder, or assistant founder of the Order, is false in every 
particular; the only connection he had therewith was vol- 
untarily offering the use of his parlor for the committee to 
hold their meetings therein. We further certify that the 
Ritual was prepared complete before J. T. K. Plant or Joel 
R. Woodruff had any connection with the Order, or were 
even spoken to in reference to joining Washington Lodge 
No. 1, K. of P. 

"D. L. Burnett, 
" W. H. Burnett, 
"E. S. Kimball, M. D., 
"Robert A. Champion. 

"Sworn and subscribed to before me this 6th day of 
March, A. D. 1869. 

" T. Drury, Justice of the Peace. " 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. Ill 

"Clerk's Certificate. 
"District of Columbia, To wit: 

"I, R. J. Meigs, Clerk of the Supreme Court of the 
District of Columbia, hereby certify that Terence Drury, 
whose genuine signature is subscribed to the foregoing 
certificate of oath, was, at the time of signing and attest- 
ing the same, a Justice of the Peace for said District, duly 
commissioned and qualified, authorized to take acknowl- 
edgments and to administer oaths, and that his attestation 
thereto is according to law. 

' ' Witness my hand and the seal of said 
[seal] * Court, this 6th day of March, 1869. 

"R. J. Meigs, Clerk r 

[5-cent. Int. Rev. Stamp.] 

''JUSTUS HENRY RATHBONE, 
" THE FOUNDER OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

' ' In the history of the Order of Knights of Pythias 
the town of Deerfield, in Oneida County, N. Y., will be 
noted as a spot of great interest, for there, on the 29th of 
October, 1839, tne founder of the Order first opened his 
eyes upon the world, to the alleviation of the sorrows of 
which he was destined to contribute so large a share. His 
father, Justus Hull Rathbone, Esq., was a prominent 
lawyer in the City of Utica, and his mother, Sarah Eliza- 
beth Dwight, who died March 20th, 1852, was a lineal 

* The committee made the following explanatory note : 
"The committee having in charge the memorial desire to state that, 
in publishing the foregoing affidavit, they disclaim the slightest inten- 
tion of casting any reflection upon Mr. Plant. At the time the affidavit 
was made, March 6th, 1869, reports had been freely circulated by certain 
persons inimical to Mr. Rathbone that Mr. Plant was the founder or 
assistant founder of the Order. The members of this committee, all of 
whom are personally acquainted with Mr. Plant, unhesitatingly affirm 
that he never made any such claim to them. Mr. Rathbone authorizes 
the committee to state that his rights to the title of Founder of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias has been invariably acknowledged by Mr. Plant 
in his presence." 



112 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

descendant of Jonathan Edwards, and a member of the 
famous Dwight family of New England. The name first 
given to him was Henry Edwin Dwight, but, in 1849, D y 
striking out Edwin Dwight, and prefixing the father's 
name, Justus, he received his present name, Justus Henry 
Rathbone ; a name which, to those who have the pleasure 
of knowing him, is synonymous with everything that is 
true and devoted in human nature. Arriving at the 
proper age, the subject of our sketch passed through the 
courses of instruction of Mt. Vernon Boarding School, 
Cortland Academy, Carlisle Seminary, and Madison Uni- 
versity, prominent institutions of learning in his native 
State. After leaving the latter college, in 1857, he was 
engaged in teaching school at Eagle Harbor, Eagle River, 
the Northwest and Central Mines, Lake Superior, and was 
also employed, for a time, as assistant clerk of the latter 
mining company. At the breaking out of the war he, 
with others, formed a company of volunteers to join the 
First Michigan Regiment, then forming at Detroit. On 
account of some informality, however, the company was 
not accepted by the Governor, but its members subse- 
quently enlisted in other portions of the State. 

"While in charge of the Eagle Harbor school, he 
became so impressed with the story of Damon and 
Pythias, and the noble, self-sacrifice of Pythias, that he 
determined to do all in his power to induce men to follow 
an example so pure, generous, and holy. The result of 
his study of this character was the ritual which has so 
taken hold of the hearts of men that to-day the growth 
of the Order is without parallel in the history of secret 
organizations. The death of his father (May 27, 1861,) 
caused him to leave the Lake Superior country, and while 
on a visit to his only sister, Mrs. J. O. Pease, of German 
town, Pa., he received the offer and accepted the appoint- 
ment of chief clerk of the U. S. Hospital at that place. 
That position he filled until he entered the army and was 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. I 1 3 

ordered to Washington, D. C, for duty in the Medical 
Department, in 1863, where he remained until 1865, when 
he accepted a civil clerkship in the office of Commissary 
General of Subsistence. In 1866 he resigned this position 
to accept a clerkship in the Second Auditor's Office of the 
Treasury Department, and in May, 1869, he resigned this 
also, and went to Boston to fill a position in Stetson's 
publishing house. There he remained until the Independ- 
ent News Company of New York City was purchased by 
Mr. Stetson, when he was sent to that city as Treasurer of 
the company, and was subsequently made its President, 
filling the position until the company closed business. 
Soon thereafter he returned to Washington and entered 
the War Department as clerk, where he now is, in the 
Military Academy Branch of the Secretary's office. 

"Mr. Rathbone married August 11, 1862, Miss Emma 
Louise Sanger, of Utica, N. Y., her father, Gerry Sanger, 
Esq. , being an old resident of that place. Five children, 
three of whom, two boys and a girl, sank into an early 
grave, blessed their union. The two remaining ones are 
lovely little girls of seven and nine years respectively, 
whose precociousness and childish excellence promise the 
perpetuation of the genius and beautiful character of their 
parents. Mr. Rathbone is five feet ten and a half inches 
in height, weighs about two hundred and thirty pounds, 
has dark brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Possessing fine 
natural abilities, joined to a thorough education, he is 
eminently valuable in any position he may assume, and 
now ranks as one of the very best clerks in the Depart- 
ment, being, aside from all else, a rapid, as well as excel- 
lent, penman. Besides the ritual of the K. of P., he has 
written the ritual of the S. P. K. , the Monks of Arcadia, 
and the musical burlesque of ' Pocahontas in Black, ' in the 
title role of which latter he has appeared on several occa- 
sions at amateur entertainments, and gained unbounded 
applause. Besides his literary talent, Mr. Rathbone pos- 



114 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

sesses a genius for music — composition as well as execu- 
tion. He plays several instruments remarkably well, has 
composed some very meritorious pieces, and is, in the 
rendition of ballads especially, one of the best and most 
admired singers, his voice, although of tenor quality, being 
of such compass as to allow him to take any part success- 
fully. Being naturally unsuspicious, and possessed of 
warm, strong feelings, Mr. Rathbone has not only been 
the victim of ingratitude and deception, but during his 
career has suffered much from the acts of those he has 
most befriended. Still his firm faith in the innate worth 
of mankind, and the final triumph of justice, has kept his 
heart warm and true, and his disposition unsoured, and 
there is no man living to-day who is a more sincere, 
devoted friend, a more unselfish, self-sacrificing champion 
of the betrayed and maligned, or a more perfect embodi- 
ment of the noble principles of the Order he called into 
life, than Justus H. Rathbone, at present a member of 
Calanthe Lodge, No. 1 1, Knights of Pythias, Washington, 
D. C. 

"Washington, D. C, May i, 1876." 

" ROBERT ALLEN CHAMPION. 

" Robert Allen Champion, the second member of the 
Order of Knights of Pythias, was born in New York City 
November 10, 1843. He received an academic education, 
and in early life entered the employ of A. T. Stewart, the 
celebrated dry goods merchant of that city, where he 
remained until the war broke out. He then enlisted, and 
was ordered directly to the front; but his naturally frail 
physique was not equal to the hardships of a soldier's life, 
and in 1862 he was sent for treatment to a Philadelphia 
hospital, for disease contracted in the line of duty, which 
became chronic, however, and incapacitated him for 
service in the field. He was, therefore, transferred, as a 
convalescent, to the United States Hospital, at German- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 115 

town, Pennsylvania, of which institution he was soon 
afterward made chief steward. In 1863 he was ordered 
for duty to the Surgeon General's Office at Washington, 
D. C. ; and at the expiration of his term of enlistment he, 
while suffering from the effects of his malady, received an 
appointment as clerk in the Second Auditer's Office, 
United States Treasury, which position he occupied until 
his death. His disease causing him continued suffering, it 
was thought that a complete change of climate might pos- 
sibly benefit him, and in the latter part of August, 1873, 
he sailed for Europe. The hopes entertained for his 
recovery were futile, however, for on September 25, 1873, 
soon after his arrival at Edinburgh, Scotland, he died. 
His remains were duly honored by his Masonic brethren 
of that city, and were by them forwarded to Washington, 
where, November 23, 1873, his funeral, one of the most 
imposing and largely attended Masonic interments ever 
known, took place. These outlines of his life would not 
be complete without a description of the moral attributes 
of Robert A. Champion, and there, indeed, words fail to 
do him justice, for never was purer, truer, nobler soul 
inclosed in mortal flesh than was the case in his frail, 
suffering body. High souled, generous, conscientious to 
the highest degree, his name was synonymous with every- 
thing pure and good, and high principle was the guiding 
star of his life. Of him can be truly said, 'None knew 
him but to love him, ' for none knew him to swerve one 
iota from the line of rectitude, duty and truth. Justice 
and humanity had in him a never-failing, devoted follower. 
Mr. Champion was married ten months previous to his 
death. His widow still resides in this city. 
"Washington, D. C, May i, 1876." 



Il6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



WILLIAM HENRY BURNETT. 



" William Henry Burnett, the son of a well-known and 
influential Baptist clergyman, was born in Adams County, 
Ohio, October 10, 1840. About the year 1842 the family 
removed to Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, and there, 
at the high-school of Prof. S. L. Howe, the subject of our 
sketch received an excellent education, having completed 
which, he engaged in clerical labor until he, in 1863, came 
to Washington, D. C. In 1864 he received an appoint- 
ment as clerk in the War Department, under Secretary 
Stanton, and from that time has remained in the employ- 
ment of the Government, occupying, at present, a position 
of importance and trust in the Quartermaster General's 
Office. In person, Mr. Burnett is rather below the 
medium height, though firmly and compactly built; his 
face, a pleasing oval, is framed by dark hair, and lighted 
up with a pair of fine dark eyes, which make his singing, 
gifted as he is with one of the sweetest tenor voices in 
Washington, the more effective. Reserved in his de- 
meanor toward strangers and casual acquaintances, he is, 
among his associates, noted not only for his cheerful, 
pleasant ways, but also for his sterling qualities and devo- 
tion to his friends. Although the petted and admired 
tenor of choirs and concerts, he has so far escaped 
Hymen's yoke, and seems to prefer the badge of Pythians 
to that of Cupid. 

"Washington, D. C, May 1, 1876." 

" DAVID L. BURNETT. 

"David L. Burnett was born in Adams County, Ohio, 
January 4, 1837. Like his brother, William H. Burnett, 
he went, in the year 1842, with his parents, to Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Iowa, and there, at the high-school of Prof. S. L. 
Howe, received an excellent education. In January, 1863, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. W] 

he came to Washington, D. C, and received an appoint- 
ment as clerk in the War Department (Paymaster General's 
Office). In June, 1868, he was transferred to the Treasury, 
being assigned the office of the Auditor of the Treasury 
for the Post-office Department; and in that position he 
has remained, being so trusted and valued as a clerk that 
he was one of the few selected to go to Europe, last fall, 
in connection with the Syndicate. In person, Mr. D. L. 
Burnett is of medium height, and rather slight build ; has 
a florid complexion, and very prepossessing exterior gener- 
ally. His disposition is genial, and his manners of that 
affable kind which impresses associates with the sense of 
thorough friendliness. He possesses a fine tenor voice, 
and is much sought after in musical society; but, unlike 
his brother, he married early, and rejoices in the posses- 
sion of a lovely daughter seventeen years of age. 
"Washington, D. C, May 1, 1876." 

"EDWARD SULLIVAN KIMBALL, M. D. 

"Edward Sullivan Kimball was born in Trenton, N. 
J., February 21, 1844; received his education in the State 
of Maine, from whence he came to the City of Washing- 
ton, September 5, 1863. Soon after his arrival at Wash- 
ington he received an appointment as hospital steward in 
the regular army, and was detailed for duty in the office of 
the Surgeon General, where he remained until he was 
offered a clerical appointment of much responsibility in 
the Secretary's office of the Treasury Department, which 
position he has held ever since. Mr. Kimball commenced 
the study of medicine in the fall of 1864, and received the 
degree of M. D. from Georgetown (D. C.) College in 
the spring of 1866. He is considered one of the bright 
lights in the medical firmament of Washington, and is 
the youngest practitioner of the Homeopathic School of 
Medicine in this city. Dr. Kimball is an accomplished 



Il8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

musician, and as an organist ranks among the best. His 
services, as conductor of musical organizations, are in con- 
stant demand, but owing to his many other duties he 
seldom appears in public. The Madrigal Society of Wash- 
ington, composed of some of the best vocal talent in the 
city, owes its inception to him, and its success is, in a great 
measure, ascribable to his indefatigable exertions, indom- 
itable energy, and superior ability. To paint a pen 
portrait of Dr. Kimball's character is not a difficult task. 
Generous-hearted and sincere, his good right hand is ever 
ready to aid a friend ; he never speaks ill of his fellow 
men, or gives countenance to evil reports, but on every 
occasion stands ready and willing to become the champion 
and defender of the oppressed. Many, very many, of his 
brethren owe lasting debts of gratitude to him for repeated 
acts of disinterested kindness and unselfish efforts in their 
behalf. If ever a human being clearly and thoroughly 
understood the full intent and meaning of the word friend- 
ship, and was ever ready to practically exemplify its 
signification, it is the subject of our sketch. Dr. Kimball 
is married, and is the father of two lovely children. 
"Washington, D. C, May I, 1876."* 

The only portion considered by the Supreme Lodge 
was that which related to the founder or founding of the 
Order, and not the biographical portion. The Supreme 
Lodge took this decisive action to set forever at rest all 
doubts that had risen as to the actual founder of the Order 
and the date of its birth. Although the members of the 
Knights of Pythias now agree as to these matters, it may 
not be known to all that there was for a time a dispute as 
to the real founder of the Order. It seems that Joseph T. 

* Published by the Committee on Memorial to the Founder of the 
Order of Knights of Pythias, appointed by Calanthe Lodge, No. II, K. 
of P., Washington, D. C, April 26, 1876. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



II 9 



K. Plant, one of the persons present at the meetings for the 
organizing of the Society, had given out that he was the 
founder, and had written, or assisted to write, the first 
ritual, and that it was through him that the Knights of 
Pythias had come into existence. This was so emphatic- 
ally denied by the other parties present, as shown in the 
affidavit here published, that the Supreme Lodge declared 
most emphatically, once and for all time, that the Order of 
Knights of Pythias was established first in the city of 
Washington, D. C, February 19, 1864, and that Justus 
H. Rathbone was the Founder. 



... A 

fit !T* fel 




120 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Early History — Washington Lodge, No. i, D. C— Organization of 
Grand Lodge, D. C. — Franklin Lodge, No. 2, D. C. — Columbia 
Lodge. No. 3, D. C— Potomac Lodge, No. 4, D. C— Alexandria 
Lodge, No. 1, of Virginia — Grand Lodge Session, 1865 — G. L. 
Officers Elected — Condition of the Order June, i865-'66 — A 
Struggle for Life — Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 5, D. C— Reorgani- 
zation of Grand Lodge, D. C. — J. T. K. Plant Expelled — G. L. 
Sessions 1866— G. L. Officers Elected — Liberty Lodge, No. 6, 
Granted a Charter— -Rituals to be Retained in Lodge Room — 
Regalia of Subordinate Lodges Adopted — G. L. Installation 
Work Adopted — Webster Lodge, No. 7, Charter Granted — Con- 
dition of Lodges September 30, 1866 — Amended G. L. Constitu- 
tion Adopted — Lodges Instructed to do Work in Knight's 
"Degree" — Attendants Provided For — Banker of Subordinate 
Lodge — Duty of — Condition of Lodges December 31, 1866 — 
Grand Lodge Working Regalia — Decision on Assessments — 
Qualifications for Membership Defined — The Order Established 
in Philadelphia — Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, of Pennsylvania — 
Pennsylvania to be Represented in the Grand Lodge — Condition 
of the Order March 31, 1867 — Columbia Lodge, No. 8, of District 
of Columbia, Granted Charter — Friendship Lodge, No. 8, Insti- 
tuted—Officers of Excelsior, No. 1, of Pennsylvania, made P. 
C.'s — G. L. Officer's Election of 1867 — Condition of Lodges June 
30, 1867 — Keystone Lodge, No. 2, of Pennsylvania, Charter 
Granted — Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 3, of Pennsylvania, 
Charter Granted 

FOLLOWING sketch of the early history and 
organization of the Knights of Pythias, pre- 
pared by Clarence M. Barton, with the pro- 
ceedings of the first Grand Lodge and the 
Provisional Supreme Lodge, is the only authen- 
ticated history that has been written covering that period 
between the founding of the Order and the establishing 




HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 121 

and formation of the Supreme Lodge. This was written 
in 1868, only four years after the birth of the Order. 
He says : 

Perhaps no other charitable organization in the country 
has labored under greater disadvantages and brought forth more 
beneficial results. Organized during the heat of the late civil 
strife, when society was in a disrupted state, it has steadily ad- 
vanced in members and importance, and is now in a flourishing 
and prosperous condition. The beautiful lessons of friendship 
between Damon and Pythias are sought to be practically taught by 
a ritual, which for beauty and perspicuity of language cannot 
be surpassed. The strong ties with which the members of the 
Order are bound together, the interesting and attractive cere- 
monies of the degrees, the unfailing interest shown for the welfare 
of the Order, and the generous manner in which the member- 
ship have ever responded to the appeals for charity have en- 
deared their hearts more firmly to its principles, and taught them 
to believe that true friendship may exist. 

As the early history of the Order cannot fail to be interest- 
ing, I have collected from the books in possession of the Grand 
Lodge (of District of Columbia — C) sufficient to show its or- 
ganization and progress. 

The first record appearing upon the books of Washington 
Lodge, No. 1, reads as follows : 

"Washington, D. C, Feb. 19, 1864. 
"At Temperance Hall, 

"Friday Evening. 
' ' Upon agreement, a number of gentlemen met, and after 
some conversation on the subject, they were called to order, and 
upon motion of Mr. J. H. Rathbone, a chairman of the meet- 
ing was proposed, and Mr. J. T. K. Plant was unanimously 
called to the chair, and D. L. Burnett nominated as Secretary. 
After organizing as above, the object of the meeting was stated 
by Mr. Rathbone to be the organization or foundation of a 
society, its business and operations to be of a secret character, 
having for its ultimate object Friendship, Benevolence, and 
Charity. Before proceeding further, those present were re- 



122 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

quested to subscribe to an oath, laid down afterwards in the 
Initiatory. All present having signified their willingness to do 
so, the same was administered to them, by reading the same, by 
J. H. Rathbone. After the taking of the oath, on motion it 
was resolved that this Order be styled 'The Knights of 
Pythias.'" 

On motion a committee was appointed to prepare a Ritual of 
opening and closing a lodge, and of initiation into the same. 
The chair appointed as said committee Brother J. H. Rathbone, 
who reported a Ritual, which, upon being read, was adopted. 
After the adoption of the Ritual, the lodge went into an election 
for officers, with the following result: Brothers J. H. Rathbone, 
Worthy Chancellor; Joel R. Woodruff, Vice Chancellor; J. T. K. 
Plant, Venerable Patriarch; D. L. Burnett, Worthy Scribe; A. 
Van Der Veer, Banker; R. A. Champion, Assistant Banker; 
George R. Covert, Assistant Scribe. 

The following officers were appointed by the Worthy Chan- 
cellor: Brothers M. H. Van Der Veer as Worthy Guide, A. 
Roderigue as Inside Steward, and as Choral Knights, Brothers 
Kimball, Roberts, D. L. and W. H. Burnett. 

On motion the Worthy Chancellor appointed the following 
committee to prepare a Ritual for the first degree (now the second 
degree), signs, etc. : Brothers Kimball, Champion, and W. H. 
Burnett, V. P. J. T. K. Plant, and W. C. J. H. Rathbone as 
chairman, added. Committees were then appointed to procure 
regalias, appliances, etc., after which, the first meeting of the 
Order adjourned to meet again on the evening of the 23d of the 
same month to perfect the organization. 

At the next meeting (on the 23d) the Committee on Degree 
Ritual presented a report, which was adopted and ordered to be 
the will of the lodge, and the committee discharged. 

The various committees appointed at the previous meeting 
also reported, and a committee was appointed to procure a seal. 

At the next meeting (27th February) various applications 
were received for membership. It also appears that at this 
meeting a committee of three, consisting of V. C. Woodruff, W. 
C. Rathbone, and Brother D. L. Burnett was appointed to pre- 
pare a Ritual of the second (now the third) degree, which was 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 23 

soon after prepared by the committee, presented to the lodge, 
and adopted. At the meeting on 24th of March, the lodge pro- 
ceeded to an election for officers to serve the ensuing quarter, 
and in addition to the officers elected, Brothers Woodruff, M. A. 
Van Der Veer, and Roderigue were elected Representatives to 
the Grand Lodge, which was organized on the 8th of April by- 
members of Washington Lodge. On the 21st of April, at a 
regular meeting of Washington Lodge, Brother J. H. Rathbone's 
resignation of office and membership in the Order was presented, 
read, and accepted. 

Brother Rathbone, at the time of his resignation, occupied 
the position of Venerable Patriarch, he having been the first 
Chancellor of Washington Lodge. The fact of being a Past 
Chancellor, it would seem, did not require him to fill the office 
of Venerable Patriarch, for, after his resignation was received and 
accepted, the lodge went into an election to fill the vacancy, and 
Brother D. L. Burnett, formerly a Scribe of the lodge, was elected 
and duly installed into the office. The minutes of the lodge up 
to this time indicate that the office of Venerable Patriarch was 
the third office in the lodge, the duties of which were to deliver 
the obligations and open and close the lodge with prayer. The 
degrees were at this time known as the initiatory and first and 
second degrees. 

The Grand Lodge, which was organized on the 8th of April, 
(1864), with J. T. K. Plant as Grand Chancellor, and A. Van 
Der Veer as Grand Scribe, set about forming lodges elsewhere, 
and providentially succeeded in locating one at the Navy Yard, 
known as Franklin Lodge, No. 2, with the following -charter 
members: Robert I. Middleton, Venerable Patriarch; Daniel 
Carrigan, Worthy Chancellor; Edward Fox, Vice-Chancellor ; 
Clarence M. Barton, Scribe; James Gill, Banker; Nicholas Way- 
son, Guide; Joseph H. Lawrence, Inner Steward; Hudson Petti t, 
Outer Steward; Edward Dunn, James W. Kelly, Jasper Scott, 
George Norton, J. H. Wheeler. 

The lodge was duly instituted on the 12th of April, at the 
Anacostia Engine House, by the officers of the Grand Lodge. 

The history of the lodge needs no comment. It is the history 
of the Order, which it saved from destruction after her sister 



124 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

lodges around her had ceased to exist. From its very organiza- 
tion the members took a lively interest in its welfare, and deter- 
mined that it should become the "Excelsior Lodge" of the 
Order. For nearly eight months it struggled along, the only 
lodge of the Order in the country ; its little membership meeting 
with rebuffs and sarcasms, and, worse than this, the stinging sin 
of ingratitude from the hands of one who had solemnly sworn to 
maintain and defend its principles. 

On the 19th of May, 1864, the Grand Lodge organized 
Columbia Lodge, No. 3, located at Temperance Hall; on the 
2d of June, Potomac Lodge, No. 4, was also organized at Tem- 
perance Hall, and afterwards located at Island Hall, on the 
Island; on the 1st of February, 1865, Alexandria Lodge, No. 1, 
of Virginia, was organized through the efforts of Brother John 
H. King, of Franklin Lodge, then engaged in the United States 
naval service near Alexandria. Brother King was appointed 
Deputy Grand Chancellor of the State of Virginia. 

The lodges were at this time in a bad financial condition, but 
doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. 
Potomac and Columbia Lodges ceased holding meetings in the 
latter part of April in consequence of being unable to secure a 
quorum; the minutes of Washington Lodge also show that for 
months at a time no meetings were held, in consequence of 
not being able to secure the number of members necessary to 
transact business. Alexandria Lodge ceased holding meetings 
in July, and at the annual session of the Grand Lodge in 
June, 1865, but two lodges were represented, Washington and 
Franklin. 

At that session the following Grand Officers were elected and 
installed: Clarence M. Barton, No. 2, Grand Chancellor; 
Joseph H. Lawrence, No. 2, Vice Grand Chancellor; Edward 
Dunn, No. 2, Grand Marshal; Wm. Whitney, No. 1, Scribe; 
Dr. J. R. Keasbey, No. 1, Banker; John W. Cross, No. 2, 
Herald; A. Van Der Veer, No. 1, Prelate; R. V. Henry, No. 
1, Inner Guardian; J. Titcomb, No. 1, Outer Guardian. 

The Grand Lodge held its last session on the 13th of June, 
1865. Washington Lodge, No. 1, ceased holding meetings in 
July of the same year, and petitioned Franklin Lodge to receive 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 125 

the members who were in good standing at the dissolution of the 
lodge; which was done a short while afterward. A few of them 
were members of Potomac Lodge, who had been received in 
membership in a similar manner by Washington Lodge. Frank- 
lin Lodge, No. 2, upon the ist of August, 1865, was the only- 
lodge in existence, the Grand Lodge having become defunct 
from necessity — it not being deemed advisable to continue its 
organization with but one Subordinate Lodge. Franklin Lodge, 
however, exercised all the functions of a Grand Lodge, its past 
officers installing the newly elected officers of their lodge each 
quarter. The work, regalia, etc., in possession of Washington 
Lodge at the time of its decease were turned over to Franklin 
Lodge on the 28th of September, upon the payment of $18.75, 
the sum necessary to pay one quarter's rent of hall, due by that 
lodge. 

At the close of the year 1865, Franklin Lodge was in a pros- 
perous condition, with a membership of nearly sixty, and nearly 
$200 in the treasury. They had sustained a loss during the year, 
through their Banker, of $255.55. 

At the beginning of the year 1866, the membership made a 
determined effort to either resuscitate the old lodges or establish 
new ones. The business of the Order had heretofore been con- 
ducted in the Knight Degree, but by resolution of the lodge, on 
the 5th of March, " it was ordered that after the last meeting in 
the month, all business, except the conferring degrees, should be 
done in the Page Degree." During this month the constitution 
of the lodge was revised, and two hundred copies printed and 
circulated. The funds on hand at the expiration of the first 
quarter in 1866, were still very small, amounting to but $123.45. 

At a regular meeting April 2d, Financial Scribe Thomas 
Hamilton moved that a committee of five be appointed to can- 
vass the city for the purpose of organizing a new lodge of the 
Order. 

The following committee was appointed : Brothers Hamilton, 
Lawson, Cook, King and Schlief. At the next regular meeting, 
April 9th, the committee reported having procured fifteen names 
in favor of forming a new lodge, and on the next meeting night, 
1 8th of April, a charter was granted Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 



126 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

5, by the Past Chancellors of Franklin Lodge, and the members 
duly initiated and instructed in the rites and ceremonies of the 
Order. The following officers of this lodge were installed : John 
I. Downs, Venerable Patriarch; Wm. L. Childs, Worthy Chan- 
cellor; John Daughton, Vice Chancellor; George Schultz, Re- 
cording Scribe; Richard T. Sears, Financial Scribe; John 
Griggs, Banker; Wm. A. Cooper, Guide; Charles Gardiner, In- 
ner Steward; John Bauman, Outer Steward. 

The installation work was revised, and a committee appointed 
to prepare a design for regalia. A committee was also appointed 
to write copies of the Ritual for Mount Vernon Lodge. 

The Ritual in use at the time, and from the foundation of 
the Order, was in manuscript, and in few respects like the pres- 
ent one. At the close of each degree there was no charge or 
lecture, save an impromptu lecture at the close of the second 
degree, then styled the first. The grips, signs, etc. , were imper- 
fect, and the obligations but repetitions of each other. 

On the 30th of April, 1866, the following petition was re- 
ceived in Franklin Lodge : 

"Washington, D. C. 

"Franklin Lodge, No. 2. 
' ' Officers and Brothers : 

" I respectfully make application for membership in Frank- 
lin Lodge, No. 2. Having been the sole originator of the Order, 
and a member in good standing of Washington Lodge, No. 1, 
now defunct, I make this application from a pure love of the 
Order, and a desire to see it prosper, and I wish to devote my 
energies to the above purpose. 

"Respectfully yours in F., C, and B., 
"P. C. J. H. Rathbone." 

P. C.'sJ. W. Cross, King, and Barton, as a committee, ex- 
amined the application, reported favorable, and it was unani- 
mously received. P. C.'s Dunn, Cross, and Barton, then con- 
ducted Brother Rathbone into the Lodge, introducing him to 
the W. C. and members. Upon invitation Brother Rathbone 
then gave a history of the organization of the Order, his con- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. \2J 

nection with it in 1864, and his reasons for resigning his office 
and membership, etc. 

The need of a perfect Ritual, in order to make the cere- 
monies more interesting and attractive, had long been felt, and 
at this meeting of the lodge the following committee was ap- 
pointed to revise the Ritual, and if possible report at the nex 
meeting night : Past Chancellors Rathbone, Barton, Dunn, Cross, 
Cook, F. S. Lawson, and Brother Cooksey, of Franklin Lodge. 
and F. S. Sears and V. P. Downs, of Mount Vernon Lodge. 
On the 14th of May the committee reported that the Ritual had 
been placed, by their sanction, in the hands of Brother Rath- 
bone for revision, and that he had performed his duty and re- 
ported to the committee, who had unanimously approved of it. 
The report of the committee was received and adopted, and 
the Ritual now in use was read and adopted as the Ritual of the 
Order, by Franklin and Mt. Vernon Lodges in joint meeting. 
It was also resolved at this meeting to reorganize the Grand 
Lodge. 

REORGANIZATION OF THE GRAND LODGE. 

On the 1st of May, 1866, pursuant to agreement, Past Chan- 
cellors Rathbone, Barton, Dunn, King, Cook and Beech, of No. 
2, John I. Downs, of No. 5, and Representative Stromberger, of 
No. 5, met for the purpose of reorganizing the Grand Lodge, 
which had held no meetings since June, 1865. The offices of 
Grand Marshal, Prelate, Herald, and Inner and Outer Guardian, 
in vogue at that time, were discontinued, and the following 
officers elected: J. H. Rathbone, Grand Chancellor; Edward 
Dunn, Vice Grand Chancellor; Clarence M. Barton, Grand Re- 
cording Scribe; John I. Downs, Grand Financial Scribe; John 
H. King, Grand Banker; Thomas W. Cook, Grand Guide; Levi 
Beech, Grand Inner Steward; John W. Cross, Grand Outer 
Steward. 

On motion of the G. R. S. Barton, the office of V. G. P. was 
made an appointive office for the first three months. The above 
officers were elected to serve the unexpired term of those whose 
tenure of office had ceased when the Grand Lodge became de- 
funct in June, 1865, the term expiring in June, 1866. At this 
meeting the signs, grips, passwords, etc., of the old work were 



128 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

changed by G. C. Rathbone, a secret cipher established, and 3 
committee appointed to have the Rituals printed. 

The next meeting was held on the 28th of May, all the officers 
being present except the G. O. S. Three representatives from 
No. 5, Brothers Downey, Jordan, and Stromberger, were also 
present. 

A committee was appointed to draft a Constitution, By-Laws, 
and Installation Work; also one to secure a design for a charter, 
and diploma of Subordinate Lodge members, and regalia for 
Grand Lodge members. 

Joseph H. Lawrence, of No. 2, was appointed V. G. P. to 
serve the balance of the term. 

P. G. C. J. T. K. Plant was expelled from the Order for 
divers reasons known to the members of the Order. 

P. C. John H. King was appointed a committee of one to 
negotiate for and buy the work of the defunct lodge in Alex- 
andria. 

An ineffectual attempt was also made at this meeting to de- 
clare null and void the proceedings of the old Grand Lodge, and 
change the numbers of Franklin and Mount Vernon Lodges to 
Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. 

June 4, 1866. 

All the officers were present at this meeting, except the G. 
C, G. G. andG. I. S. 

P. C. King offered a form of application to establish new 
lodges, which was adopted. 

P. C. King offered a design for apron regalia for Subordinate 
Lodges, which was adopted. 

A communication was ordered to be sent to J. T. K. Plant, 
requesting him to deliver up the books, seal and papers of the 
Grand Lodge. 

A communication was read from Franklin Lodge, turning 
over to the Grand Lodge all the property of defunct lodges in 
its possession, for the sum of $18.75 payable, in three months' 
time. 

P. C. Barton moved that the Grand Lodge transfer to Mount 
Vernon Lodge all the working material then in her possession. 
The motion was lost. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. I2g 

On motion, it was ordered that the V. P. of Subordinate 
Lodges be an appointed office for the first term only, and all 
new lodges be allowed four Representatives the first quarter, and 
three Representatives the three following quarters. 

June 18, i860. 

At this session P. C. John W. Cross declined to serve as G. 
O. S. , which declination was received. 

The new Constitution and By-laws of the Grand Lodge were 
reported by the committee, and V. G. C. Dunn was appointed 
a committee to draft form of processions. 

On motion, duly seconded, it was ordered ' ' that in Subordi- 
nate Lodges the V. C. shall be addressed by all persons wishing 
to leave the room before the adjournment of the lodge." 

It was then ordered that the first annual and quarterly session 
of the Grand Lodge for the coming fiscal year be held at the 
room of Franklin Lodge, No. 2, on the second Monday in July. 

This closed the last meeting held in the unexpired term — the 
Grand Lodge having in its possession the sum of sixty-one dol- 
lars, sixty of which had been loaned to her by the two lodges, 
Franklin and Mount Vernon. 

July 9, 1866. 

An annual and quarterly session was held. 

The Grand Lodge met in due form. Absent, G. C, G. G., 
G. I. S. and G. O. S. 

The credentials of P. C. Childs and Representatives Strom- 
berger, D. and B. Daughton, of No. 5, were received. 

The quarterly reports of Nos. 2 and 5 Lodges were then pre- 
sented; No. 2 showed a membership of 43; General Fund of 
$112.16; Widow and Orphan's Fund, $8.14; percentage, $7.13. 
No. 5, a membership of 96; General Fund, $224.54; Widow 
and Orphan's Fund, $32.26; percentage $22.25. 

Mount Vernon Lodge had thus far been a complete success, 
and the manner in which their membership worked to extend the 
Order and its principles cheered those who had been so long 
engaged in its behalf to renewed exertions. The Grand Lodge, 
too, began to feel that she had something to rely upon, and de- 



130 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

termined to put forth a stronger effort than ever before to ad- 
vance the work. 

At this session the following Grand Officers were elected to 
serve for one year: Edward Dunn, No. 2, Grand Chancellor; 
John I. Downs, No. 5, Vice Grand Chancellor; Clarence M. 
Barton, No. 2, Grand Recording Scribe; W. L. Childs, No. 5, 
Grand Financial Scribe; John H. King, No. 2, Grand Banker; 
Jasper Scott, No. 2, Grand Guide; R. V. Henry, No. 2, Grand 
Inner Steward; Thomas W. Cook, No. 2, Grand Outer Steward. 

Past Grand Chancellor J. H. Rathbone succeeded to the 
chair of Venerable Grand Patriarch, now made the highest office 
in the Grand Lodge. 

P. C. John H. King reported having negotiated for and pur- 
chased the work of the defunct Alexandria Lodge for $33.50; 
which sum was ordered to be paid. 

The P. C.'s report was received, and the committee dis- 
charged from further consideration of the subject. 

The following resolution was passed : 

Resolved. That all sums received from members of new lodges, con- 
stituting them chartered members, are to be considered as initiation and 
degree fees. 

July 12, 1866. 
A special session was held. The following business was 
transacted : The new printed Ritual was placed in the hands of 
a committee of three, P. C.'s Fox, Dunn, and King, and com- 
pared with the manuscript work. After the correction of a few 
typographical errors, the original manuscript was destroyed by 
fire. A communication was ordered to be sent to the two lodges 
requiring them to deliver up their manuscript Ritual, and re- 
ceive in lieu five copies of the printed, free of expense. The 
supply standard was placed at five copies for $20. A lodge 
applying for the second set to be furnished at $10. 

On motion, it was ordered that one card of the secret cipher 
be transmitted to the W. C. of each lodge, to transfer it quar- 
terly to his successor. A bill of $57.50 was then presented for 
printing, examined by Finance Committee, and ordered to be 
paid. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 131 

July 16, 1866. 
An adjourned annual and quarterly session was held. The 
manuscript work from the two lodges was delivered to the 
Grand Lodge by the P. C, and a committee appointed to de- 
stroy it, which was done. A design for a charter, executed 
by P. C. John H. King, was exhibited, and a committee of four 
appointed to perfect the design for charter and diploma. Com- 
mittee: P. C.'s King and Barton, and Representatives Daughton 
and Stromberger. 

July 30, 1866. 

A special session was held, P. G. C. Rathbone in the chair. 
A petition for a charter was received, with forty-three signers, to 
organize Liberty Lodge, No. 6, to be located at the Navy Yard. 
The following were the officers of the lodge : Wm. P. Westwood, 
Venerable Patriarch; Thomas E. Pyles, Worthy Chancellor; 
John T. Smith, Vice Chancellor; A. C. Hoops, Recording 
Scribe; James Matthieson. Financial Scribe; Samuel Langley, 
Banker; Alonzo Shaw, Guide ; Wm. Sissell, Inner Steward ; W. 
Hardy, Outer Steward. 

The charter was granted, and the gentlemen being in waiting 
were introduced and instructed in the mysteries of the Order. 

August 8, 1866. 

A special session was held, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 
P. C. Barton was appointed a committee of one to inquire into 
the cost of printed charters. 

On motion it was ordered ' ' that the W. C. of each Subordi- 
nate Lodge should be notified that the printed Ritual should 
never be removed from the lodge room, but should be opened at 
any time, in the lodge room, for perusal by any Knight in good 
standing." 

The following was established as the working regalia of Subor- 
dinate Lodges: for Knights, plain red collar; Esquires, yellow 
collar ; Pages, blue collar ; for officers, plain red collar, with 
movable insignia of office upon them; for V. P., plain black col- 
lar, with Bible in metal upon it. 

It was resolved that the apron regalia, which was established 
at this session, should never be worn in the lodge room, except in 



132 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

visiting or receiving sister lodges, official visitation, and funerals. 
The installation work of the Grand Lodge was here read by 
P. G. C. Rathbone, and adopted. The funeral services were 
also read and adopted, and P. G. C. appointed to add a short 
prayer. P. C. Childs was appointed a committee to get up de- 
sign for apron regalia of Grand Lodge officers and members. 

August 20, 1866. 

A special session was held, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 
The Committee on G. L. Officers and Members' Regalia sub- 
mitted a report, which was adopted, and the apron regalia (now 
in use) made the established regalia of the Grand Lodge. 

The committee on inquiring into the cost of printed charters 
submitted a report, which P. C.'s Barton and Cross were author- 
ized to have printed. 

The following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That, in order to more fully instruct candidates in the 
mysteries of the Order, not more than six be allowed to be initiated 
and instructed in the several degrees at one time. 

Appropriations — $10 to Committee on Charters; $5 to P. C. 
John H. King for Charters. 

August 24, 1866. 

An application for a charter was presented to the Grand 
Chancellor to organize Webster Lodge, No. 7, signed by Harry 
Kronheimer, David Nachman, I. L. and H. L. Blout, E. Voight, 
D. L. Demelman, C. W. Okey, Wolf Kaufmann, J. Peyser, P. 
Peyser, and others. The charter was granted, and the lodge 
organized on the 27 th by the Grand Lodge officers, at Franklin 
Lodge room. 

August 29, 1866. 
A special meeting was held, P. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 
A committee of three — P. C. Barton, Representatives Daughton 
and Stromberger — was appointed to procure a suitable hall for 
the meetings of the Grand Lodge. 

Webster Lodge, No. 7, was loaned a full set of working ma- 
terial until the Grand Lodge should require it. 

An invitation was read and accepted from Mount Vernon 
Lodge, No. 5, to be present at their excursion to Mount Vernon 
and Glymont. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 33 

The burgee (now in use) was adopted, and P. C.'s Scott, 
Childs, and King appointed a committee to procure the burgee 
and lance. 

The following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That, hereafter, when a person applies for membership in 
a lodge outside of his jurisdiction, a communication shall be sent to the 
lodge nearest his residence asking for his character. 

Webster Lodge was allowed to keep their charter open until 
the 2 1 st of October. 

Appropriations — $15 to Franklin Lodge to reimburse her for 
outlay for blanks, etc. ; $1 for room rent. 

September, 7, 1866. 

An adjourned special session was held at Temperance Hall, 
G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 

The committee on securing hall reported having procured 
Temperance Hall at $3 per meeting night. The report was 
received. The following committees were appointed : — 

Election and Returns — P. C.'s Barton, Martin, and Losano. 

On Grievance — P. C.'s Cross, Henry, and Childs. 

On Supervision — P. C.'s Scott, Fox, and Childs. 

Franklin Lodge, No. 2, requested that her charter be re- 
opened until fifty additional members be secured, each candidate 
to be admitted in a constitutional form, and be disqualified from 
receiving benefits for six months. The request occasioned con- 
siderable debate ; after which it was granted, with the following 
amendment: — "That hereafter no lodge shall be allowed to 
open its charter after being once closed." 

The Committee on Apron Regalia reported having procured 
samples of the same from the manufacturers, and presented bills. 
The report was received and the committee discharged from the 
further consideration thereof. The following appropriations were 
made : — 

Hall Rent, $ 3 00 

To finish Burgee, . . . . . . 10 00 

Apron Regalias (sample) ..... 28 25 

Total, $41 25 



134 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 






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HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 35 

October 8, 1866. 

A regular quarterly session was held, G. C. Edward Dunn 
in the chair. The proceedings of the previous quarterly and 
special sessions were read and approved. The credentials of the 
following Past Chancellors and Representatives were presented: 
Thomas Hamilton, of No. 2 ; R. T. Johnson, of No. 5 ; W. P. 
Westwood, and Thomas E. Pyles, of No. 6 ; Harry Kronheimer, 
and I. L. Blout, of No. 7 ; Representatives — John Daughton, 
John M. Michael, Josiah Gray, of No. 5 ; W. P. Allen, William 
Ready, L. A. Tnell, of No. 6; H. L. Blout, J. Peyser, C. W. 
Okey, of No. 7, which were referred to the Committee on 
Election and Returns, which reported favorably thereon, and 
recommended their admission, which was concurred in. The 
Past Chancellors and Representatives Gray, Allen, Ready, Tnell, 
Blout, and Okey were then admitted and obligated. 

The Committee on Burgee reported the same completed, at a 
cost of $10; the report was received, the committee discharged, 
and the Burgee placed in the hands of Grand Banker King for 
the Grand Lodge. 

P. C. Barton stated that he had in his possession a new Con- 
stitution which he had prepared, in view of the fact that the one 
in use was not sufficient to meet the demand for the proper gov- 
ernment of the lodges. The Constitution was, upon motion of 
P. C. R. T. Johnson, read by articles and sections, and had 
been read as far as Article VIII, Section V, when the Grand 
Lodge adjourned until the thirteenth. 

October 13, 1866. 

The Grand Lodge met in due form, pursuant to adjournment, 
G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 

Representative John Daughton, of No. 5, was admitted and 
instructed. 

The new Constitution was again taken up, and the remaining 
articles and sections adopted, and the Constitution adopted in 
whole. 

Representatives from No. 6 moved that hereafter the Com- 
mittee on the Good of the Order be appointed in open lodge. 
Adopted. 



I36 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

P. C.'s Childs, Barton, and Representative Okey were ap- 
pointed a committee to inquire into the expediency of having 
the Constitution printed. 

At this session G. R. S. Clarence M. Barton requested that 
his rank in the Order be more clearly defined, he having been 
elected Grand Chancellor of the Order in June, 1865, and re- 
maining as such until the Grand Lodge ceased its functions by 
the decease of all the lodges except Franklin. After debate 
upon the matter, it was resolved that P. C. Clarence M. Barton 
be known hereafter as Past Grand Chancellor of the Order. 
The Grand Lodge then adjourned until 16th October. 

October 16, 1866. 

Pursuant to adjournment, the Grand Lodge met in due form, 
G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 

Representative Jacob Peyser, of No. 7, was admitted and in- 
structed. 

P. C. Edward Fox applied for the honors of a Past Grand 
Chancellor. After debate, the subject was laid on the table. 

Brothers J. Peyser, I. L. Blout and Tnell were appointed a 
committee to have the funeral services printed. 

The following article was offered and read : ' ' That the Subor- 
dinate Lodges shall do all their work in the Knight Degree." 

A motion was made to suspend the rules to take up the arti- 
cle for action upon it. The chair decided the motion not in or- 
der. An appeal was taken from the decision of the chair, and 
the chair was sustained. 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned. 

November 22, 1866. 

A special session was held, P. G. C. Barton in the chair. 

The parts of the Constitution conflicting with the Ritual were 
taken up and stricken out. 

P. C.'s Barton, Westwood and Kronheimer were appointed 
a committee to procure the officers' rosettes and emblems. The 
same committee was appointed to get up a design for working 
regalia of Grand Lodge. 

The Committee on Funeral Services presented a prayer, 
which was read and adopted. Adjourned. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



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138 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

December 28, t866. 

A special session was held, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 

The By-Laws of the Subordinate Lodges were presented and 
read by the G. R. S. The parts conflicting with the Constitution 
and Ritual were stricken out, and the By-Laws adopted; P. C's 
Barton, Martin, and Kronheimer were appointed a committee to 
examine the proof-sheets, and compare them with the original 
manuscript. Adjourned. 

regular quarterly session. 

January 14, 1867. 

The Grand Lodge met in due form, at Temperance Hall, 
V. G. C. John I. Downs in the chair. The minutes of the last 
quarterly, adjourned, and special sessions were read and approved. 
The credentials of the following Past Chancellors and Represent- 
atives were presented, and referred to the Committee on Election 
and Returns, who reported favorable thereon, and recommended 
their admission. 

Past Chancellors — D. Carrigan and R. T. Lawson, of No. 2 ; 
R. T. Sears, of No. 5 ; John T. Smith, of No. 6 ; H. L. Blout, 
of No. 7. Representatives — F. Stromberger, John E. Herrell, 
and W. F. Garrett, of No. 5 ; Stephen Simonds, F. Prosperi, 
and William Ready, of No. 6; J. Peyser, Thomas Rich, and 
C. W. Okey, of No. 7. 

Past Chancellors Carrigan, Smith, Sears, and Lawson, and 
Representatives Herrell, Garrett, Simonds, and Rich were 
admitted and instructed. 

The committee also examined the quarterly reports, and 
reported favorably thereon. The report of No. 7 was not 
presented. 

The Committee on Funeral Service reported having it printed, 
and presented a bill for the same; and they were discharged 
from the further consideration of the subject. 

The Committee on Officers' Rosettes reported having secured 
them at a cost of $8. 

The Committee on Working Regalia for Grand Lodge 
members submitted a report ; and after debate it was laid upon 
the table. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 39 

The committee on inquiring into the cost and expediency 
of having the Grand Lodge Constitution printed, submitted 
a report, that they could have one hundred copies printed at 
a cost of $32, and deem it expedient to have them printed at once. 

P. G. C. Barton offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That hereafter, on the night of installation, the Worthy 
Chancellor of each lodge shall appoint four officers, styled "Attendants," 
to serve during the quarter, and to be fined in case of absence — said 
attendants to assist the officers of the lodge during the Initiation and 
conferring of the Degrees. 

After debate upon the resolution the yeas and nays were 
called, and it was adopted by the following vote : 

Yeas — Past Chancellors Carrigan, Barton, Smith, Lawson, 
Cross, Childs, Westwood, Fox, Downs, Henry, Sears, Beech; 
Representatives Simonds, Rich, Stromberger, Jacob Peyser, 
Herrell. 

Nays — Past Chancellors Johnson, Pyles, Hamilton; Repre- 
sentative Garrett. 

The following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted : 

That, hereafter, previous to the installation of the Banker of the 
Subordinate Lodges, he will be required to deliver the funds of the lodge 
to his successor, in the presence of the installing officer. 

The motion passed by the Grand Lodge on the 7 th of Sep- 
tember, 1866, to prevent the charter of any lodge from being 
opened after it had been closed, was then, upon motion, recon- 
sidered, and upon motion of P. C. John W. Cross, Webster 
Lodge, No. 7, was allowed to reopen her charter for the space 
of one year, and confer the Page, Esquire, and Knight Degrees 
for the sum of $5. P. C.'s Carrigan, Westwood, and Barton 
were appointed a committee to revise the installation work 
of Subordinate Lodges. 

P. C. Thomas Hamilton stated that he had collected a sum 
of money for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses to 
establish a lodge of the Order in Pennsylvania. The list of names 
of those subscribing was presented by the P. C. The G. C. was 
empowered to pay over the amount to those who might be depu- 



I4O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

tized to organize a lodge outside the District. The following 
appropriations were made . — 

Printing Constitution of Grand Lodge, . . $32 00 

Rosettes for Officers, . . . . . . 8 00 

Printing Funeral Odes, ..... 35° 

Hall Rent, 3 00 

Total, $46 50 

The Grand Lodge adjourned until the 29th instant. 

January 29, 1867. 

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment, at Union 
Lodge Hall, and was opened in due form, G. C. Edward Dunn 
in the chair. 

The credentials of Representative Darnell, of No. 6, were 
received, examined, and the brother admitted and instructed. 

The Committee on Printing reported having received twenty 
copies of the Grand Lodge Constitution, the remainder to be 
finished in a few days. The report was received. 

The Committee on comparing the proof-sheets of the Con- 
stitution and By-Laws of Subordinate Lodges with the original 
manuscript, reported that the proofs were examined by them 
and found to be filled with errors. They asked to be discharged, 
which was agreed to. 

The Committee on Grand Lodge Working Regalia submitted 
three different plans for consideration, and, after discussion, the 
following was adopted as the working regalia of the Grand 
Lodge : Past Grand Chancellors and Venerable Grand Patriarchs, 
black velvet collars, trimmed with gold; the letters P. G. C. 
worked in gold on the former, and a Bible in gold on the latter. 
For all officers and Past Chancellors, a red velvet collar, trimmed 
with gold bullion. On the officers' collars their insignia will be 
worked in gold ; for Representatives from Subordinate Lodges, 
a red velvet collar, trimmed with silver bullion. 

The committee on getting up a form of installation for Subor- 
dinate Lodges (P. C.'s Carrigan, Barton and Westwood) sub- 
mitted a form, which was read (the same now in use), and, after 
a lengthy discussion, adopted by a vote of eleven to five. 

The seats of Grand Guide Jasper Scott, and Grand Inner 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 141 

Steward R. V. Henry, were declared vacant according to the 
Constitution, they having been absent six sessions. 

The Grand Lodge went into an election, and P. C. W. P. 
Westwood, of No. 6, was elected Grand Guide, and P. C. 
R. T. Johnson, of No. 5, Grand Inner Steward. 

Representative Herrell, of No. 5, asked the following inter- 
rogatories : 

"1. Is it lawful to assess the members of a lodge one dollar 
a head on the decease of a brother, and turn the same into the 
treasury of the lodge, when there is no widow or children to 
receive it ? 

"2. Has a lodge a right to levy a tax on its members for any 
object not specified in the Constitution and By-Laws of said 
lodge ?" 

The interrogatories, after a lengthy debate, were referred to 
the Grievance Committee. 

In reply to a question by Representative Stromberger, the 
Grand Chancellor decided that members of Subordinate Lodges 
had no right to know the business transacted by the Grand 
Lodge, unless officially informed of it. 

After the transaction of other business, the Grand Lodge ad- 
journed until 1 2th of February. 

The following appropriations were made : 

To Mount Vernon Lodge, for money loaned, . $30 00 
To Hall Rent, 5 00 

February 12, 1867, 

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment, and was 
opened in due form, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 

The credentials of Representative H. V. Cole, of No. 7, 
vice Thos. Rich, resigned, were received, examined and the 
brother admitted and instructed. G. G. Westwood and G. I. 
S. Johnson were duly installed in office. 

The Committee on Printing Grand Lodge Constitution made 
a partial report, and asked for an appropriation of $3 to supply 
deficiency. The report was received. 

The Committee on Rosettes and Emblems reported having 



142 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

procured the emblems at a cost of $16, and were discharged 
from the further consideration of the subject. 

On motion of P. C. Daniel Carrigan, a copy of the printed 
Ritual, with the seal attached, was loaned to P. G. C. J. H. 
Rathbone until such time as the Grand Lodge should demand it. 

The Grievance Committee, P. C.'s John W. Cross and R. V. 
Henry, to whom had been referred the interrogatories of Rep- 
resentative Herrell, on the 29th of January, reported as to the 
first interrogatory, "That no tax could be levied;" and as to 
the second, "That a lodge has a right to levy a tax for any pur- 
pose not specified in the Constitution and By-Laws 3 provided it 
be done by unanimous consent of those present." 

P. C. Martin moved that the report of the committee be re- 
ceived and adopted. After discussion upon the subject, and 
various motions and appeals, P. G. C. Barton moved that the 
whole subject be postponed until the next session of the Grand 
Lodge ; which was adopted. 

P. G. C.'s Rathbone and Barton, and P. C. Carrigan were 
appointed a committee to have the Grand and Subordinate 
Lodge installation work printed. 

P. C. Kronheimer offered the following resolutions, which 
were laid over according to rule : 

Resolved, That no brother who is not in possession of the quarterly 
password shall be admitted to a seat, nor gain admittance into a sister 
lodge. 

Resolved, That hereafter all applicants for membership to the Knights 
of Pythias shall sign their names to the application, and if they are not 
competent to do so, they shall not be admitted to fellowship, and those 
now belonging to the Order who cannot write their names shall be dis- 
qualified from ever holding office in the Order. 

On motion, and at the request of P. G. C. Rathbone, he 
was empowered to reorganize Washington Lodge, No. 1, by 
bringing it back into the Order in a constitutional form. 

P. G. C.'s Rathbone, Barton, and G. C. Dunn were, on mo- 
tion of P. C. Carrigan, appointed a committee to set to music 
the initiatory anthem. 

A communication was read from Franklin Lodge, No. 2, 
presenting to the Grand Lodge their old second and third de- 
gree work. The communication was received and a vote of 
thanks tendered that lodge. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 43 

Representative Darnell offered the following amendment to 
the Grand Lodge Constitution : 

Article 4, Section 1 : " That this Grand Lodge hold an an- 
nual session on the fourth Tuesday in July." 

Representative Stromberger moved that the proceedings of 
the "Old Grand Lodge" be declared null and void, and a com- 
mittee of three be appointed to procure a new seal. 

P. C. D. Carrigan moved to lay it on the table, which motion 
was lost. After debate on the question, P. C. John W. Cross 
moved to postpone the matter until the second meeting night in 
August, which was adopted by a vote of fourteen to four. 

A debate was here sprung in regard to the expulsion of P. G. 
C. J. T. K. Plant, and rank of P. G. C. Rathbone. 

P. C. Westwood offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That notwithstanding any action to the contrary, V. G. P. 
J. H. Rathbone is hereby declared to be the senior Past Grand Chancel- 
lor of the Order. 

The resolution was adopted. 

P. C. John H. King offered the following resolution : 
Resolved, That during installation, initiation, and conferring of de- 
grees, all other business must be suspended, and no brother will be per- 
mitted to enter or retire from the lodge room. 

Also a resolution establishing the mode of balloting. Laid 
over, according to rule. The voting sign of the Order was then 
established, and a new form of quarterly reports. 

P. G. C. Barton stated that he had been for some time 
communicating with gentlemen in Philadelphia in relation to 
establishing the Order in that city, and was satisfied, from the 
tenor of their letters, that a Lodge of the Order could be organ- 
ized there with good material. He asked an appropriation of 
money to proceed to Philadelphia at once, for the purpose of 
explaining the principles of the Order to those in that city who 
were willing to take hold of the matter and to arrange prelimi- 
naries previous to their making application for a charter. 

On motion the sum of $20 was appropriated from the fund 
collected by P. C. Hamilton for the payment of P. G. C. Bar- 
ton's expenses to Philadelphia, and the following Past Chancel- 
lors deputized to proceed to Philadelphia in case Bro. Barton's 



144 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

efforts were successful : P. G. C. Rathbone, G. C. Edw. Dunn, 
P. C.'s John W. Cross, and Daniel Carrigan. 

On motion of P. G. C. Rathbone, the Subordinate Lodges 
were requested to turn out in procession, and escort the Grand 
Officers to the depot on the occasion. The rrand Lodge mem- 
bers were also requested to turn out, and the following committee 
appointed to procure music: P. G. C. Rathbone, and P. C.'s 
Childs and King. 

P. C. J. W. Cross asked to be excused from serving on the 
Grievance Committee, which was agreed to. 

The following appropriations were made : 

Officers' Emblems, $16 oo 

Deficiency on Printed Constitutions, . . . 3 oo 
Blank Notices for G. R. S., . . . . 4 00 



Total, $23 00 

Adjourned. 

P. G. C. Barton left Washington on the 15th for Philadelphia. 
On arriving there he proceeded directly to several friends in the 
northwestern part of that city, and, after a consultation upon the 
subject, they determined to organize a lodge. A meeting was 
called at the residence of George Hensler, Esq. , corner Fifteenth 
and Brown streets, who was chosen chairman. The objects and 
principles of the Order were duly explained, and those present 
subscribed to the application. The name of the lodge was 
fixed upon as Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, and the application was 
forwarded to the Grand Chancellor at Washington. 

February 21, 1867. 
A special session was held, G. C. Edw. Dunn in the chair, 
who stated that he had received a letter from P. G. C. Barton, in 
Philadelphia, informing him of the success he had met with, and 
also enclosing the following application for a charter, which was 
read by G. R. S. /. /. D. Carrigan. 



V 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 45 

"Philadelphia, Feb. 19, 1867. 

11 To the G. C. and Members of the Grand Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias, D. C. 

"The undersigned, residing in the City of Philadelphia, 
respectfully petition your honorable body to grant them a charter, 
or dispensation, to establish a lodge of the Knights of Pythias, 
to be located in the Fifteenth Ward, Philadelphia, said lodge to 
be known as Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, Knights of Pythias, and 
under your jurisdiction. Charter fee enclosed, $10. 

"Wilbur H. Myers, Venerable Patriarch; Fred. Coppes, 
Worthy Chancellor ; John Jay Fisher, Vice Chancellor ; 
William A. Porter, Banker; A. J. Huntzinger, Finan- 
cial Scribe ; G. Graef, Recording Scribe ; J. W. Hencill, 
Guide; James McDevitt, Inner Steward; James Her- 
mann, Outer Steward; George Hensler, Wm. A. Mc- 
Coy, Wm. R. Buddy, James Culbertson, C. Umstead, 
Jacob Allen, D. P. Miller, George C. Johnson, C. S. 
Williams, Robert Jeandelle, Samuel C. Barton, Wm. 
Allen, Louis Lampter, James Porter, P. Bodamer, P. 
J. Hallowell, Enoch McCabe, James Dunn, George 
W. Lanster." 
The application was referred to the following committee for 
examination : P. C.'s Childs, Smith, and Scott, who reported 
favorably ; when, upon motion, the charter was granted. 

On motion it was resolved that the degree work presented to 
the Grand Lodge by Franklin Lodge, No. 2, be taken to Phila- 
delphia and left in charge of Excelsior Lodge. A committee of 
one from each lodge was also appointed to get everything in 
readiness, and it was resolved that those deputized on the 12th 
instant to proceed to Philadelphia, to leave for that city on the 
11:15 train, Saturday, February 23d. 
Adjourned. 

P. G. C. Rathbone, P. C.'s Carrigan, Cross, Smith, and 
others, were escorted to the depot from Mount Vernon Lodge 
room on the morning of the 23d of February, by Heald's Band, 
and the members of the Order in regalia. 

On arriving in Philadelphia they were met by P. G. C, 



I46 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Barton, and G. C. Dunn (who had arrived two days before), and 
along with their Philadelphia friends proceeded to the hall of the 
Mechanic Fire Company, Brown street, below Fifteenth street, 
and there organized Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, and installed their 
officers, on the evening of the 23d of February, 1867. 

February 26, 1867. 

An adjourned quarterly session was held, P. C. Kronheimer 
in the chair. 

The committee to organize Excelsior Lodge, of Philadelphia, 
reported the result of their labors, and were discharged from 
the further consideration of the subject. 

The committee on Music made a partial report, and were 
granted further time. 

On motion of Representative Garrett, of No. 5, the motion 
by which the report of the Grievance Committee on the inter- 
rogatories of Representative Herrell was laid over until the 
next session, was reconsidered; and, after debate, the commit- 
tee's report on the second interrogatory was stricken out, and 
their report on the first — that no tax could be levied — was 
adopted as the sense of the Grand Lodge. 

The G. R. S. was authorized to forward a communication to 
No. 5 Lodge, informing them of the illegality of levying the 
tax of one dollar upon their members on the decease of one 
of their brothers. 

A communication was also ordered to be sent to P. C. T. W. 
Cook, in Philadelphia, requesting him to visit Excelsior Lodge 
and instruct its members in the work of the Order. 

The following resolution, offered by P. G. C. Barton was 

adopted : 

Resolved, That the Grand Lodge, District of Columbia, shall pay the 
traveling expenses of one Past Officer of Excelsior Lodge, of Pennsyl- 
vania, to attend the Grand Lodge sessions for one year. 

P. C. I. L. Blout offered a substitute for P. C. King's resolu- 
tion in regard to the mode of balloting ; which was adopted. 

An appeal was read from Brothers F. Stromberger and J. T. 
Roland, of No. 5, protesting against a fine being levied upon 
them for conversing in the lodge room during initiation. Re- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 47 

ferred to the following committee: P. C.'s Henry, I. L. Blout, 
and Westwood. 

A card of thanks was tendered the members of Excelsior 
Lodge, Philadelphia, for their kind and generous treatment of 
the Grand Lodge delegates while in that city. 

Also one to Representative Stromberger for the aid he had 
given the brethren in preparing the necessary work. 

And a card of thanks to the Subordinate Lodges for their 
turn-out on the occasion of escorting the delegates to the depot. 

On motion, P. C. John H. Ring was loaned the emblems of 
the Grand Lodge, to be used by Franklin Lodge, No. 2, on 
the occasion of visiting a fair at Odd-Fellows' Hall. 

P. G. C. Rathbone moved that a committee of five be ap- 
pointed to take into consideration the feasability of erecting a 
hall in the city, to be known as the hall of the Knights of Pyth- 
ias ; adopted, and the following committee appointed : P. G. 
C. Rathbone, and P. C.'s King, Childs, Westwood, and Kron- 
heimer. 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned until March 12th. 

March 12, 1867. 

An adjourned quarterly session was held, G. C. Edw. Dunn 
in the chair. 

The credentials of P. C. Wilbur H. Myers and Represent- 
atives Fred. Coppes, Wm. A. Porter, and John W. Hencill, of 
Excelsior Lodge, Pa. , were presented and referred to the Com- 
mittee on Election and Returns, which reported favorable. 

Representatives Coppes and Porter were then introduced 
and instructed. 

The Committee on Music made a report, and requested an 
appropriation of $5 to supply deficiency. 

On motion of P. C. J. S. Martin the report was received, 
and the request granted; the committee was then discharged. 

An application for a card was read from J. N. Turpin, a 
former member of Washington Lodge, No. 1, and referred to 
P. C.'s Johnson, Kronheimer, and Carrigan. 



I48 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The By-Laws of Excelsior Lodge, of Pennsylvania, were 
presented, read, and approved, and that lodge empowered to 
keep open its charter books until the first meeting in July. 

The Committee on Printing Installation Work of Grand and 
Subordinate Lodges was empowered to have 100 copies printed. 

The Committee on Supervision were, on motion of P. C. 
King, ordered to report at the next session all conflictions be- 
tween the Ritual and the Constitution. 

Appropriation — $5.00 to Committee on Music. 

Adjourned. 

regular quarterly session. 

April 9, 1867. 

The Grand Lodge assembled in quarterly session, and was 
opened in due form, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. Prayer 
by V. G. P. pro iem. Carrigan. 

The proceedings of the adjourned and special sessions were 
read and approved. 

The Committee on Election and Returns reported favorably 
on the returns of Nos. 2, 5 and 6, of D. C, and No. 1, of Phil- 
adelphia. The returns of No. 7, of D. C, were not presented. 

The credentials of the following brothers were found correct, 
and so reported by the committee: P. C.'s W. H. Myers, of 
Pa. ; C. Hutzler, of No. 2 ; B. Daughton, of No. 5 ; James 
Matthieson, No. 6; Jacob Peyser, No. 7, and Representatives 
Allen, Mclnturff and Gordon, of No. 6, and Okey, Cole and 
Nattaus, of No. 7. 

The following, being present, were admitted and instructed : 
P. C.'s Myers, Hutzler, Matthieson and Daughton, and Repre- 
sentatives Allen, Mclnturff and Cole. 

The committee to whom was referred the application of J. N. 
Turpin for a card, made an unfavorable report, finding that at 
the time of the decease of Washington Lodge the brother was 
not in good standing. The report was received and the com- 
mittee discharged. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



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I50 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The Committee on Grievance, to whom was referred the ap- 
peal of Bros. Stromberger and Roland, of No. 5, reported that 
the cause of the brothers being fined was of such a nature that 
it would not justify a line, and that the brothers were fined con- 
trary to custom and law, there being no legal charges brought 
against them for the offense at the time. The report was re- 
ceived and adopted, and the committee discharged. 

Applications for cards from T. Harry Donahue, of late Wash- 
ington Lodge, and John P. Lucas, of late Potomac Lodge, were 
read and referred to the following committee: P. C.'s Fox, Mat- 
thieson and Daughton. 

An application for card was also received from Isaac N. 
Bowen, a Past Chancellor, of late Alexandria Lodge; which, on 
the recommendation of P. C. John H. King, was granted. 

A communication was read from Excelsior Lodge, of Phila- 
delphia, informing the Grand Lodge of the election of their offi- 
cers for the ensuing quarter. Also, one tendering the thanks of 
their lodge to the Grand Lodge for their generous treatment of 
their Representatives at the last Grand Lodge session. And 
one from Franklin Lodge, No. 2, notifying the Grand Lodge 
that fifty additional members had been secured by that lodge, 
according to the rules prescribed by the Grand Lodge. Also, 
one from same lodge, notifying the Grand Lodge of P. C.'s 
who were in arrears. 

The communications were received and noted. 

On motion, the action of Excelsior Lodge, in re-electing the 
same officers for the ensuing quarter, was sustained. 

An appeal was read from A. T. Altemus, of No. 7 Lodge, 
claiming that H. V. Cole had been unconstitutionally elected 
Financial Scribe of that lodge, and that he (Altemus) was en- 
titled to the office ; referred to the Grievance Committee. 

The amendments to the Grand Lodge Constitution — offered 
by P. G. C. C. M. Barton, and Representative Darnell, on the 
29th January — were then taken up and adopted, making the time 
for holding the quarterly session on the 2d Tuesday of each 
quarter, and the annual session on the 4th Tuesday in July. 

The resolutions of P. C. H. Kronheimer, proposing an 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 151 

amendment to the Grand Lodge Constitution, which were pre- 
sented on 1 2th February, were taken up, and, after discussion, 
were rejected. 

The amendment offered by Representative Stromberger, that 
' ' No brother shall be eligible to the office of W. C. until he has 
served one term in each subordinate office, commencing with the 
office of Financial Scribe, and progressing upward," was taken 
up, and, after a lengthy debate, adopted. A vote by lodges be- 
ing called, resulted as follows: Affirmative — Mount Vernon, 
Webster, Excelsior; Negative — Franklin and Liberty. 

The following committee was appointed to devise a P. C.'s 
and Representative's Degree for the Grand Lodge : G. C. Ed- 
ward Dunn, P. G. C. C. M. Barton, and P. C.'s Myers, Childs, 
Westwood and Kronheimer. 

The following committee was appointed to inquire into the 
expediency of giving an excursion for the benefit of the Grand 
Lodge: P. G. C. Barton and P. C.'s Childs and Kronheimer. 

The following appropriations were made : 

Installation Work (printing), .... $26 00 

Hall Rent, 4 89 

C. M. Barton, traveling expenses, . 10 00 

W. H. Myers, traveling expenses. . 10 00 

Total, $50 89 

RECEIPTS. 

Percentage from Subordinate Lodges, . $ 99 70 

Cards, ........ 45° 

Total, $104 20 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned. 

May 14, 1867. 

A special session was held, Grand Banker Jno. H. King in 
the chair. 

On motion, the vote by which the amendment of Represent- 
ative Stromberger to the Constitution was effected at the last 
session, was declared null and void, the vote on the amendment 
having been taken by Lodges, when Article XVIII of the Grand 
Lodge Constitution required all amendments to be approved by 



152 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

a vote of two-thirds of the members present entitled to vote before 
they became a part of the Constitution. 

The committee on the application of John P. Lucas for card 
made a favorable report, and a card was granted. 

The Committee on Supervision reported connections between 
the Ritual and Constitution. 

The Committee on Grievances reported upon the appeal of 
A. T. Altemus, that he was entitled to the office of Financial 
Scribe, and that Brother Cole* was not. 

The reports were received and adopted. 

Bro. John Meyer, formerly a member of the late Potomac 
Lodge, applied for a card, and P. C.'s Westwood, Johnson, and 
Childs were appointed a committee upon it. 

Receipts — Card of John Meyer, $1.50. 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned. 

June 17, 1867. 

A special session was held, G. C. Edw. Dunn in the chair. 

An application for a charter to organize Columbia Lodge, 
No. 8, was presented, accompanied with the charter fee and 
requisite number of signers — the lodge to be located in the 
southwestern part of the city of Washington, D. C. The appli- 
cation was dated May 10, 1867, an d signed as follows : Wm. H. 
Signor, Geo. H. Kepplar, James T. Davis, Wm. T. Hall, Geo. 
W. Sewell, James B. Shearer, G. W. Barkman, J. H. Truett, 
and J. R. N. Curtin. 

The application was received, referred to the appropriate 
committee, which reported favorably, and the charter was 
granted, previous to which the name of Columbia was stricken 
out, and the applicants ordered to be informed that the name of 
Washington or Columbia could not be used by a new lodge, 
there being two defunct lodges bearing those names. 

Receipts — Charter fee, $10.00. 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned. 

*At the beginning of the quarter Brother H. V. Cole was installed 
into office by the Grand Chancellor, objections to the contrary notwith- 
standing. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



153 



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154 pythian knighthood. 

. June 25, 1867. 

A special session was held for the purpose of organizing 
Friendship* Lodge, No. 8, G. C Edward Dunn in the chair. 
A committee was appointed to wait on the applicants and pro- 
cure a list of their officers. The committee reported the follow- 
ing : V. G. P. (past officer), J. R. N. Curtin ; Worthy Chancellor, 
John H. Kepplar; V. C, Geo. W. Sewell; Banker, Jas. Shearer; 
R. S., W. T. Hall; F. S., W. H. Signor ; Guide, L. B. Grimes; 
I. S. , Jas. L. Davis; O. S., Geo. W. Barkman. The above 
officers and several members were then introduced, and in- 
structed in the mysteries of the several degrees. 

Adjourned. 

regular quarterly session. 

July 9, 1867. 

The Grand Lodge assembled in due form, G. C. Dunn in 
the chair. Prayer by V. G. P. pro tem. Edward Fox. 

The minutes of the last quarterly and special sessions were 
read and approved. 

The Committee on Election and Returns reported the returns 
of Nos. 2 and 6 correct, and those of No. 1, of Pa., and Nos. 
5 and 7, of D. C, incorrect; the former not having the W. C.'s 
signature attached, and the two latter having no seals affixed. 
The report was received and adopted by vote of 18 to 3. 

The credentials of the Past Chancellors and Representatives 
were then examined by the committee, and the following were 
admitted and instructed: P. C.'s John Schultz, No. 2 ; J. R. N 
Curtin, No. 8; F. Wood, No. 5; A. Shaw, No. 6; C. W. 
Okey, No. 7 ; Representatives Allen, Mclnturff, and Garrett, 
No. 6; Wilbourne, Dykes, and Kepplar, No. 8; and Cole, 
Clark, and Altemus, of No. 7. 

The following committees, being unable to report, were dis- 
charged : on Regalia, Excursion, and Degree Work. 

A communication was read from Excelsior Lodge, of Penn- 
sylvania, asking the Grand Lodge to confer the Past Chancellor's 
Degree upon all their first installed officers, in order to advance 

*Charter granted under name of Columbia Lodge. — J. R. C. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 155 

the work in Philadelphia; that they be empowered to make their 
R. S., B. and O. S. yearly officers, and that they be empowered 
to hold a new election for officers to serve the balance of the 
quarter. Ordered to be recorded. 

P. G. C. Barton offered the following : 

Whereas, Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, of Philadelphia, organized but 
little more than four months since, and now numbering 300 members, in 
order to more fully carry on the work begun in Philadelphia, have re- 
spectfully made application to this Grand Lodge for a dispensation to 
make their first officers Past Officers; and whereas, the Grand Lodge, of 
D. C, fully recognizing the great interest Excelsior Lodge has taken in 
endeavoring to spread the Order, and desiring to extend to them all the 
facilities in our power for so doing, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That John Jay Fisher, Wm. H. Wartman, Geo. W. Pugh, 
Wm. A. Porter, John W. Hencill, James McDevitt, Jos. Hermann, and 
John Brown, M. D , be, and they are hereby declared to be Past Chancel- 
lors of the Knights of Pythias, of the State of Pennsylvania, entitled to 
all the amenities and privileges of Past Chancellors of the Order. 

On motion, the rules were suspended to take up the resolu- 
tion. An amendment was offered to insert after the names, the 
names of the Recording Scribes and Bankers of Nos. 5, 6, 7, 
and 8 Lodges, which was laid on the table. The resolution then 
passed, after debate, by a vote of 17 to 7. 

On motion, Friendship Lodge, No. 8, was allowed to keep 
open their charter six months from its date. 

A communication was read from Union Lodge, No. 11, 
I. O. O. F., instructing the Grand Lodge to turn over all money 
for hall rent to Parker Hall Sweet, Secretary of the Grand Lodge 
of Odd Fellows, until further orders. 

Communications were read from Mount Vernon Lodge, one 
requesting a new First Degree Work, in lieu of the one taken 
by the Grand Officers to Philadelphia, and one requesting a 
charter from the Grand Lodge in lieu of the one granted by the 
Past Chancellors of Franklin Lodge. The requests contained in 
the communications were granted. 

Representative Garrett offered the following : 

Resolved, That Article VI., Section 9, requiring elective officers of 
Subordinate Lodges to serve in the capacity of O. S., and progress up- 
ward to the chair of W. C, be annulled, and insert ''from Financial 
Scribe." 

A motion was made to suspend the rules to take up the 



156 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

resolution, which was laid on the table. The resolution was laid 
over. 

Representative Allen offered the following : 

Resolved, That Recording Scribe Theodore Sniffin, of Liberty Lodge, 
No. 6, Knights of Pythias, be, and is hereby, entitled to receive the 
Grand Lodge Degree. 

The resolution was taken up, discussed, and then laid on the 
table. 

Several amendments to the Grand Lodge Constitution were 
then offered by P. G. C. Barton, and laid over. 

The Grand Lodge then went into nominations for Grand 
Officers, with the following result : 

For Grand Chancellor: — P. C.'s Westwood, Carrigan, Childs, 
King, and P. G. C. Barton. 

For Vice Grand Chancellor: — P. C.'s Carrigan, Kronheimer, 
Smith, Johnson, Sears, and King. 

For Grand Recording Scribe : — P. C.'s Westwood and Okey, 
and P. G. C. Barton. 

For Grand Financial Scribe: — P. C.'s Cross, Okey, Curtin, 
Wood, and Johnson. 

For Grand Banker: — P. C.'s Martin and Westwood, and G. 
C. Dunn. 

For Grand Guide: — Cross, Wood, Sears, Johnson, Okey, 
Kronheimer, and Curtin. 

For Grand Inner Steward: — P. C.'s Westwood, Wood, 
Childs, Sears, and P. G. C. Barton. 

For Grand Outer Steward: — P. C. Martin and P. G. C. 
Barton. 

On motion of P. G. C. Barton, a Committee on Printing was 
appointed, with full power to have all necessary printing done 
for the Order. P. G. C. Barton, P. C. Carrigan, and P. C. 
Okey, committee. 

Receipts, $65.21. Expenditures, hall rent, $9-.37. 

The Grand Lodge then adjourned. 

July 15, 1867. 
A special session was held, G. C. Edward Dunn in the chair. 
An application for a charter for Keystone Lodge, No. 2, of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 57 

Philadelphia, was received, dated June 29, 1867, charter fee 
enclosed, and twenty-six signatures attached. 

On motion of P. C. D. Carrigan the charter was granted, 
and P. C. Harry Kronheimer deputized to proceed to Phila- 
delphia on the following Thursday, and install the officers and 
initiate the members of the new lodge. 

Receipts, charter fee, $10 00. Expenditures, traveling ex- 
penses to H. Kronheimer, $10 oo. 

Adjourned. 

annual session. 

July 23, 1867. 

The Grand Lodge assembled and was opened in due form. 

Present : — J. H. Rathbone, Venerable Grand Patriarch ; 
Edw. Dunn, Grand Chancellor ; C. M. Barton, Grand Recording 
Scribe; Wm. L. Childs, Grand Financial Scribe; John H. King, 
Grand Banker ; Wm. P. Westwood, Grand Guide ; R. T. John- 
son, Grand Inner Steward. 

Prayer by V. G. P. J. H. Rathbone. 

The proceedings of the regular quarterly and special sessions 
were read and approved. 

The credentials of P. C.'s Coppes, Wm. A. Porter, and 
Representatives Wallace, Curry, and Ashe, of Excelsior Lodge, 
No. 1, of Philadelphia, were found correct, and the brothers 
admitted and instructed. 

The Committee on Printing reported having procured 200 
copies blank quarterly reports, 200 odes, and 100 withdrawal 
cards. The report was received. 

The report of the Finance Committee was, upon motion of 
P. C. R. T. Johnson, laid over until the adjourned session, and 
Representative Allen, of No. 6, appointed to serve upon the 
committee, in place of P. C. Childs, who declined. The com- 
mittee now stands as follows : — P. G. C. Rathbone and P. C. 
Scott, and Representative Allen. 

An application for a charter for Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 
3, of Philadelphia, dated July 20, 1867, was then read. Charter 
fee enclosed, and signed by the requisite number. 

The charter was unanimously granted, and the G. C. ap- 
pointed D. G. C. W. H. Myers, P. C.'s Coppes, Porter, and 



158 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Hencill, of Pennsylvania, and G. G. Kronheimer, of D. C. , to 
initiate and install the new lodge. 

On motion of P. C. Coppes, Keystone Lodge, No. 2, was 
empowered to keep open their charter until October 26, 1867. 

P. C. R. T. Johnson moved that the action of the Grand 
Lodge in February last, (26th,) declaring illegal the action of 
Mount Vernon Lodge, in levying the one dollar tax upon its 
members, in the case of the death of a brother, be repealed. 
After considerable debate, the motion was adopted. 

P. C. C. W. Okey moved the nomination of officers be re- 
opened; lost. 

On motion of P. C. J. S. Martin the Grand Lodge went into 
an election for officers for the ensuing year. P. C.'s Porter and 
Coppes, of No. 1, Pa., were appointed tellers. 

P. G. C. Barton withdrew his name for the office of Grand 
Chancellor, and the first ballot resulted as follows, viz. : Carri- 
gan, 14; Westwood, 13; Childs, 7; King, 3 — no choice. P. 
C.'s Childs and King withdrew their names. Second ballot: 
Westwood, 22; Carrigan, 16; necessary to a choice, 20. P. C. 
Westwood was therefore declared elected Grand Chancellor. 

For Vice Grand Chancellor, P. C.'s Smith and King with- 
drew their names, and the ballot resulted as follows : Carrigan, 
19; Kronheimer, 10; Johnson, 7. P. C. Carrigan was declared 
elected Vice Grand Chancellor. 

For Grand Recording Scribe, P. G. C. C. M. Barton was 
unanimously elected. There being no opposition candidate, P. 
G. C. Rathbone cast the vote of the Grand Lodge. 

Grand Financial Scribe — First ballot: Cross, 8; Okey, 13; 
Wood, 9 — no choice. Second ballot: Cross, 10; Okey, 13; 
Wood, 8 — no choice. P. C. Wood withdrew his name. Third 
ballot: Okey, 19; Cross, 12. P. C. Okey was declared elected 
Grand Financial Scribe. 

For Grand Banker, P. G. C. Dunn withdrew his name, and 
there being but one nominee — P. C. J. S. Martin — he was de- 
clared unanimously elected. There being no opposing candidate, 
P. G. C. Rathbone cast the vote for the Grand Lodge. 

Grand Guide, P. C. Sears, withdrew his name. First ballot : 
Cross, 4 ; Wood, 6 ; Kronheimer, 1 2 ; Curtin, 5 ; — no choice. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 59 

Second ballot — P. C. Curtin withdrew — Cross, 4 ; Wood, 8 ; 
Kronheimer, 14. P. C. Kronheimer was declared elected Grand 
Guide. 

For Grand Inner Steward : Wood, 17 ; Childs, 1. P. C. Wood 
was declared elected. 

For Grand Outer Steward, the following nominations were 
made : P. G. C. Rathbone, and P. C. Lawson. The vote was 
as follows: P. G. C. Rathbone, 11, P. C. Lawson, 13. The 
latter was declared duly elected. 

G. C. Dunn then installed his successor, who, in turn, installed 
the remaining newly elected officers. 

On motion of P. G. C. Rathbone the thanks of the Grand 
Lodge were tendered to the late Grand Chancellor, for his effici- 
ency during the past year. 

Several amendments to the Ritual were then offered by P. G. 
C. Barton, and laid over according to rule. 

The case of Croton Fletcher was also disposed of, by empow- 
ering any lodge in the District to initiate and confer the three 
degrees upon him for five dollars. 

The following rates of tariff, for Grand Lodge revenue, were 
determined upon : 

Withdrawal Cards, each, .....$ 25 

Odes, each, ........ 05 

Ritual, First Set, ...... 20 00 

Ritual, Second Set, . . . . . . 10 00 

Installation Work, per set, .... 1 50 

The following resolution was offered and adopted : 

Resolved, That members of defunct lodges, who were not in good 
standing at the time of the decease of their lodge, and who apply for 
admission into the Order, can receive a card from this Grand Lodge by 
paying the amount standing against them upon the books of their respect- 
ive lodges. 



v 



The Grand Lodge adjourned until August 15, 



RECEIPTS. 



Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 3, Pa., charter fee, . $10 00 

Excelsior Lodge, No. I, Pa., percentage, . . 62 27 

Excelsior Lodge, No. 1, Pa., Rituals, . . . 20 00 

Total, $92 27 



i6o 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



APPROPRIATIONS. 

To Printing Committee, ..... $30 00 

C. M. Barton, services, . . . . . . 25 00 

P. C. F. Coppes, of Pa., traveling expenses . 10 00 

Total, $65 00 

Duriftg the year the lodges had paid to the Grand Lodge as 
percentage $389 77 ; the total receipts for the year were $576 79 ; 
total expended $347 01; leaving a balance in hands of newly 
elected Banker of $229 78. 

The Order now numbered eight Lodges, namely, Franklin, 
No. 2, Mount Vernon, No. 5, Liberty, No. 6, Webster, No. 7, 
and Friendship, No. 8, of the District of Columbia; and Excelsior, 
Keystone, and Chosen Friends, of Philadelphia. 

The quarterly report of No. 1 Lodge, of Philadelphia, showed 
that the experiment of planting the Order outside of the District 
had by no means been a failure 1 ; but, on the contrary, its principles 
seemed to be disseminated as if by magic, and those who embraced 
them, saw, by the very simplicity of the work, and the practical 
lessons taught by the Ritual, a glorious future for the Order in the 
State of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. 

(Signed) Clarence M. Barton, P. G. C, 

Grand Recording Scribe, 




Original Seal of the Grand Lodge of the 
District of Columbia. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



161 



CHAPTER VII. 



Provisional Supreme Lodge — Grand Lodges, how instituted — Con- 
vention preparatory to Supreme Lodge — First Session Supreme 
Lodge, 1868 — Adjourned Session Supreme Lodge, 1868 — Ad- 
dresses of Supreme Chancellor Samuel Read — First intimation of 
Higher Rank — Conclaves — Adoption of Supreme Lodge Seal, 
and description — Adoption of Supreme Lodge Mark, and de- 
scription—Adoption of Supreme Lodge Regalia — Adoption of 
Ritual for Supreme Lodge — The German Ritual for Subordinate 
Lodges — Supreme, Grand and Subordinate Lodge Constitution — 
Members of First Supreme Lodge — First Incorporation of Su- 
preme Lodge, August, 1870 — Amended Act of Incorporation, 
October 5, 1875 — Amended Act of Incorporation, May, 1882. 



SHOWN by the preceding chapter, 
the entire management and control 
of the Order of Knights of Pythias 
was at first vested in the lodges of 
the District of Columbia which were 
organized into a Grand Lodge, and 
this Grand Lodge also created from 
its own body the Provisional Supreme 
Lodge, and performed the double 
duty of Grand and Supreme Lodge. 
By virtue of the power vested in itself by itself, it granted 
charters and established lodges in Pennsylvania, New Jer- 
sey, Maryland and Delaware, until these states had a suf- 
ficient number of lodges organized, each within itself, for 
the formation of a Grand Lodge, when the Provisional 
Supreme Lodge, located in the District of Columbia, 
granted charters and instituted Grand Lodges in these 




1 62 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

states, subject to the authority of the Provisional Supreme 
Lodge. While this state of affairs may seem strange, and 
it might appear that the lodges in the District of Columbia 
were arrogating to themselves a great deal of authority, 
yet in the very nature of things it could not be otherwise. 
The Order had been first established in their midst ; theirs 
were the parent lodges, and from them the Order must 
spread, and too much praise cannot be awarded to those 
brother Knights of the District of Columbia for the deep 
interest they took in the infant society. From their own 
limited funds, for they were all men of moderate means, 
they had borne the expense of all the preparatory work, 
and in traveling about to plant the Order in the territory 
surrounding them, and the sequel shows that they prose- 
cuted the work with effect, for by the month of August, 
1868, a sufficient number of Grand Lodges had been in- 
stituted to organize the Supreme Lodge. The Grand 
Lodge of the District of Columbia had provided for this 
work, for we find the following Article of the Consti- 
tution of that body, adopted December 31, 1867: 

ARTICLE XI. 

Section i. When there are three Grand Lodges in com- 
plete working order, this Grand Lodge shall give notice of the 
same, under seal, of the time of electing ten delegates from each 
Grand Lodge to meet in joint convention, for the purpose of 
recommending to each Grand Lodge some definite way of form- 
ing the Supreme Grand Lodge, which must be ratified by a ma- 
jority of the Grand Lodges. 

Sec 2. But in no case can the convention disqualify the 
Past Grand Chancellors from forever being members as long as 
they remain in the Order; and upon the formation of that 
body this Grand Lodge ceases its functions as the Supreme 
Lodge, and, together with all Grand and Subordinate Lodges, 
shall receive and honor them as the Supreme Head. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 63 

At the regular quarterly session of the Grand Lodge 
of the District of Columbia and Provisional Supreme 
Lodge, held April 14, 1868, Past Grangl Chancellor Bar- 
ton offered the following resolutions, which were adopted : 

1. Be it resolved (agreeably to Article XI, Section 1, of the Con- 
stitution), That the Grand Recording Scribe be directed to notify the 
Grand Lodges of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland to elect 
ten delegates for the purpose of meeting in joint convention to recom- 
mend to the Grand Lodges now in existence some definite way of 
forming the Supreme Lodge of the United States. 

2. Be it resolved further, That each Grand Lodge shall notify 
their delegates to meet in convention in the city of Philadelphia on 
Friday, May 15, at 9 o'clock a. m., and said delegates shall con- 
tinue in session until some definite plan is determined upon. 

3. Be it resolved further, That the Grand Chancellor of the Pro- 
visional Supreme Lodge shall call said convention to order, where- 
upon a permanent organization shall be effected by the election of a 
President and Secretary. 

4. Be it resolved further, That, after the convention has deter- 
mined upon some definite plan, the secretary thereof shall transmit a 
copy of the same, attested by the president of the convention, to 
the Grand Lodges of the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsyl- 
vania and New Jersey, which Grand Lodges will hold a special ses- 
sion and take action thereon, and transmit the result of said action 
to the secretary of the convention. 

5. Be it resolved further, That if the president of the convention 
finds that a majority of the Grand Lodges have ratified the plan of 
forming the Supreme Lodge as presented by the convention, he shall 
cause the secretary of the convention to inform the Grand Lodges of 
the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland of 
the ratification of the same, and the Supreme Lodge shall be formed 
at such time and place and of such representation as the convention 
may have determined upon.* 

6. Be it resolved further, That each Grand Lodge shall pay the 
traveling expenses of their delegates. 

7. Be it resolved further, That the Provisional Supreme Lodge 
and Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia immediately go into 
an election for ten delegates. 

8. Be it resolved further, That the Grand Recording Scribe be 
directed to notify the different Grand Lodges above named, or any 
other Grand Lodge which may be chartered previous to the meeting 
of the convention. 

* To the States named in this Section was added that of Delaware, 
when the convention convened. 



164 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION CALLED TO DEVISE 
A PLAN TO FORM THE SUPREME LODGE. 

The delegates chosen from the Grand Lodges of the 
District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mary- 
land and Delaware, met at Philadelphia on the 15 th day 
of May, 1868, in the hall of the Southwark Hose Com- 
pany, on Third street, below Lombard. 

The convention was called to order at 10 o'clock a. m. 
by William P. Westwood, Grand Chancellor of the Pro- 
visional Supreme Lodge, and William Blancbois, of Penn- 
sylvania, was appointed secretary. Francis Turner, of 
Maryland, was chosen temporary chairman. 

The chairman of each delegation was appointed to act 
as Committee on Credentials, namely : Justus H. Rath- 
bone, District of Columbia; R. F. Anderson, Pennsyl- 
vania; D. J. Pierman, New Jersey ; C. F. Abbott, Mary- 
land, and James P. Hayes, of Delaware, who reported the 
following credentials correct: 

District of Columbia — Past Grand Chancellors Clarence 
M. Barton and J. H. Rathbone ; Past Chancellors William 
L. Childs, Harry Kronheimer, J. R. N. Curtin, Hugh G 
Divine, J. W. Bradbury, J. G. Dudley, D. Carrigan, and 
R. Lawson. 

Pennsylvania — Grand Chancellor Fred. Coppes ; Past 
Chancellors Wm. S. Sneyd, T. W. Martin, C. W. Show- 
aker, Abell Willis, Sr., J. H. Rheem, Jacob Somerset, 
William Blancbois, D. M. Blackburn, and R. F. Anderson. 

New Jersey — Grand Chancellor Samuel Read ; Past 
Chancellors W. B. French, Wm. H. Barton, Robt. Muf- 
fett, Daniel J. Pierman, T. Brooke Joslin, Richard Wilmot, 
R. F. S. Heath, James A. Parsons, and B. F. Wood. 

Maryland — Grand Chancellor James A. Campbell ; 
Past Chancellors Francis Turner, C. F. Abbott, John W. 
Brown, N. M. Bowen, John A. Reed, John A. Thomp- 
son, Jr., Charles E. Lowe, Samuel DeHaven, and John 
Burns. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 65 

Delaware — Past Chancellors Ralph Rigby, James L. 
Smith, Edwin Hirst, James P. Hayes, James E. Reynolds, 
Robert White, John Wright, Andrew Carey, E. L. Seely, 
and Henry S. Truitt. 

A committee, composed of one from each State, was 
appointed on Permanent Organization, namely : Daniel 
Carrigan, District of Columbia; J. H. Rheem, Penn. ; Wm. 
H. Barton, New Jersey; Jas. A. Campbell, Maryland; 
and Edwin Hirst, of Delaware. The officers reported by 
them were elected by acclamation, and assumed their posi- 
tions, as follows : President — William Blancbois, of Penn- 
sylvania, Vice-Presidents — Samuel Read, of New Jersey; 
N. M'. Bowen, of Maryland ; James P. Hayes, of Delaware. 
Secretary — Clarence M. Barton, of District of Columbia. 

Justus H. Rathbone, of District of Columbia; Jacob 
Somerset, of Pennsylvania ; James A. Parsons, of New 
Jersey; John A. Thompson, of Maryland, and Robert 
White, of Delaware, were appointed a committee to pre- 
pare rules. 

Twenty-four Rules of Order were, after recess, submit- 
ted and adopted by the convention. These rules being 
the ordinary rules for the government of conventions, it is 
not deemed necessary to embody them in this work — the 
following rule being the one of chief interest now : 

16. The convention shall not adjourn until the business for which 
it was called is disposed of, but a recess may be declared for such 
length of time as the convention may determine. 

On motion of P. C. Abbott, of Maryland, the Presi- 
dent was instructed to create a pass-word for the members 
of the convention during their labors, which was done. 

A committee, consisting of one from each delegation, 
was appointed to " prepare business " for the convention, 
who, after a recess of ten minutes, offered the following : 

1. The Supreme Lodge shall be composed of Past Grand 
Chancellors, and ^Representatives, to be elected by the dif- 

*This blank was filled by inserting "three." 



1 66 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ferent State Grand Lodges for two years, at the same meeting at 
which the deliberations of this convention are ratified. 

2. They shall meet in Supreme Lodge at such time as may 
be designated by this convention, and proceed to organize by 
electing a Supreme Chancellor, Supreme Vice Chancellor, 
Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, and Supreme 
Banker.* 

3. The said body, after organizing as above, shall be hailed 
and known and recognized as the Supreme Authority of the 
Knights of Pythias of the World. 

4. Resolved, That for the purpose of organizing the Supreme 
Lodge, all the present officers of the State Grand Lodges be 
declared Past Grand Chancellors. 

Respectfully, 
H. Kronheimer, R. Rigby, 

J. H. RHEEM, D. J. PlERMAN, 

F. Turner, Committee. 

After some discussion, and voting upon amendments to 
this report, during which the credentials of Morris H. Gor- 
ham, of Pennsylvania, vice Win. S. Sneyd, were received, 
and the brother admitted to a seat, the several articles 
were adopted as amended, and afterwards appeared, as 
amended, as the order of the convention, in the ''plan" 
which was promulgated, and which is here given in full. 

The convention adjourned to meet again in Wilming- 
ton, Del., at the call of the President, in case the plan 
devised was not ratified by a majority of the State Grand 
Lodges. 

THE PLAN. 

The Supreme Lodge shall be composed of Past Grand Chan- 
cellors and three Representatives from each Grand Lodge, their 
election as such making them Past Grand Chancellors. They 

*This Section was amended so as to include " Founder and Supreme 
Past Chancellor; Supreme Venerable Patriarch," before Supreme Chan- 
cellor, and after Supreme Banker, ''Supreme Guide; Supreme Inner 
Steward, and Supreme Outer Steward." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 6/ 

shall be elected for two years at the same meeting at which the 
deliberations of this convention are ratified. 

They will meet in Supreme Lodge in the city of Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia, upon the second Tuesday in Au- 
gust, in 1868, and proceed to organize by electing a 
Founder and Past Supreme Chancellor, 
Supreme Venerable Patriarch, 
Supreme Chancellor, 
Supreme Vice Chancellor, 
Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, 
Supreme Banker, 
Supreme Guide, 
Supreme Inner Steward, 
Supreme Outer Steward. 
The said body, after organizing as above, shall be hailed and 
known and recognized as the Supreme Authority of the Knights 
of Pythias of the World. 

All the present officers of the State Grand Lodges are de- 
clared Past Grand Chancellors. 

Respectfully submitted, 

William Blancbois, 

President of the Convention. 
Attest : 

Clarence M. Barton, 

Secretary. 

This plan was ratified by the Grand Lodges of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland 
and Delaware, all the Grand Lodges then in existence. 

THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SUPREME LODGE, 

Composed of the Past Grand Chancellors and Grand Rep- 
resentatives from the State Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and the Grand Lodge 
of the District of Columbia, was convened at Washington 
on the morning of the nth day of August, 1868. 

Past Grand Chancellor Blancbois, of Pennsylvania, as- 
sumed the chair, pending the permanent organization, Clar- 



1 68 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ence M. Barton acting as Secretary, and stated that as all 
were familiar with the objects of the meeting he would 
not enumerate them. He said that the work upon which 
they were about to enter was of such moment he would 
request Past Grand Chancellor Abbott, of Maryland, to 
offer prayer for the success of the Order, which was done 
with a fervent spirit. 

The roll of States was then called, and, pending the 
nomination and election of officers, Samuel Read, of New 
Jersey, Edward Dunn, of the District of Columbia, and 
Francis Turner, of Maryland, were appointed to examine 
the credentials, and reported the names of delegates. 

The delegates were then, on motion, seated by States. 

William P. Westwood, who had presided over the Pro- 
visional Supreme Lodge, was declared a Past Supreme 
Chancellor of the Order. 

Justus H. Rathbone was nominated for Founder and 
Past Supreme Chancellor. The nomination was closed, 
and, on motion, P. G. C. Samuel Read, of New Jersey, 
cast the unanimous vote of the Supreme Lodge for Brother 
Rathbone, who was declared duly elected to that office, 
an office which dies with the officer then elected. 

Tellers were then appointed and ballots taken for other 
officers, which, under guidance of the rules of order of 
the Provisional Supreme Lodge Constitution, resulted in 
the election of Wilbur H. Myers, Pennsylvania, Supreme 
Venerable Patriarch; Samuel Read, New Jersey, Supreme 
Chancellor (Presiding Officer) ; James P. Hayes, Delaware, 
Supreme Vice Chancellor; Clarence M. Barton, District of 
Columbia, Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe ; 
Wm. A. Porter, Pennsylvania, Supreme Banker ; C. F. 
Abbott, Maryland, Supreme Guide ; Henry Kronheimer, 
District of Columbia, Supreme Inner Steward ; Frederick 
Coppes, Pennsylvania, Supreme Outer Steward. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 69 

As no installation work had yet been prepared, a mo- 
tion prevailed that the officers elected be declared duly in- 
stalled. A committee of two was then appointed to con- 
duct the Supreme Chancellor to the chair, who, on assum- 
ing possession, appointed a committee to escort the other 
officers elect to their respective chairs. Supreme Chancel- 
lor Read on taking the chair addressed the Supreme Lodge 
as follows : 

Representatives and Brethren : The present moment to us is 
of great interest. You have just elected and installed the officers 
of the ' ' Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. " The acts 
of this hour-, I trust, generations will look back to with pride. 
Who can presume to estimate fully the interests that hang upon 
the movements of this body to-day? A new moral and benevo- 
lent Order of so recent a date, and yet so soon a giant. Organ- 
ized in the city of Washington, D. C, in 1864, by a few gentle- 
men, we have now Grand Lodges established in the District of 
Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, 
and Subordinates in New Orleans, Richmond and New York 
City. 

We have, in confidence, established for ourselves a name, 
and are about to take supreme control, not only of the United 
States, but of the World, in matters pertaining to this Order. My 
brethren, it is no small movement; we have taken upon us solemn 
obligations. If we act well our part, and live what we profess, we 
will be enabled to look forward, at no very distant period, and 
find Lodges of the Knights of Pythias established in the four 
quarters of the globe ; and, too, we can confidently look for the 
watchful care of an All-wise Providence, who is ever ready to 
assist us in the promulgation of principles so well calculated to 
bind man to man in one common brotherhood. My brethren, we 
are engaged in a great moral battle ; we must fight against sin, 
error and prejudice, and assist the church of God as co-workers in 
alleviating the suffering of down-trodden humanity. 

Thanking you, brethren, for the confidence you have reposed 
in me, I will endeavor to appreciate the responsibilities resting 



I70 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

upon me. The position now held has been in no wise my own 
seeking, but by your partiality ; therefore, let me have your 
hearty assistance in performing the arduous duties assigned, so 
that we can the more effectually work in this labor of love. We 
are now ready to proceed to business. 

On motion, unanimously agreed, the thanks of the 
Supreme Body, through its executive, were tendered to 
P. G. C. William Blancbois, for the just and impartial 
manner in which he presided over the convention for de- 
vising a " plan " of organization. 

On motion, Past Supreme Chancellor Westwood, of 
the District of Columbia ; Past Grand Chancellors Blanc- 
bois, of Pennsylvania ; French, of New Jersey ; Bowen, 
of Maryland, and Grand Representative King, of Dela- 
ware, were appointed a committee to prepare and present 
a Constitution and By-Laws. 

The following communication was read by the Supreme 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe : 

Philadelphia, August 7, 1868. 
To the Supreme Lodge K. of P. — Greeting: 

The undersigned, having formed a favorable opinion of 
your Order, and believing that the formation of a similar institu- 
tion among the women of our land would be productive of the 
best results, respectfully petition that your Honorable Body may 
be pleased to initiate a movement that will result in a work so 
adapted. 

We further pray, that in the event of this petition receiving a 
favorable consideration, that your Honorable Body grant unto 
the undersigned a charter, with such rights and privileges as you 
may deem wise and prudent. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Kate A. Benner, 

No. 15 1 7 Park Ave., Philadelphia, 
Kate A. Monroe, 
Annie Widley, and others. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. I/I 

This communication was very promptly laid upon the 
table, and its many successors for the same purpose have 
shared the same fate. 

A statement of the financial condition of the Provisional 
Supreme Lodge was made, and resolutions passed, requir- 
ing of that body all blank charters, reports, etc. ; rituals, 
installation work and odes on hand, the stereotyped plates 
of the ritual, and the sum of five hundred dollars in cash ; 
also, that the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia 
collect all outstanding debts, and pay all bills due the 
Provisional Supreme Lodge to the 28th of August, 1868 ; 
and that notice of the action of the Supreme Lodge be 
sent to the Lodges interested. 

P. G. C. Joseph S. Martin offered the following resolu- 
tion, which received unanimous approval : 

Resolved, That the Supreme Lodge recognizes no higher degree 
or degrees of the Order than those now established in the Ritual of 
the Order. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE SUPREME LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

The following was presented by the Committee on 

Constitution : 

ARTICLE I. 

HOW CONSTITUTED. 

Section i. The Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias is 
constituted as follows : 

(1) Founder and Past Supreme Chancellor. (2) Supreme 
Venerable Patriarch. (3) Supreme Chancellor. (4) Supreme 
Vice Chancellor. (5) Supreme Recording and Corresponding 
Scribe. (6) Supreme Banker. (7) Supreme Guide. (8) Su- 
preme Inner Steward. (9) Supreme Outer Steward; likewise, 
(10) All Past Supreme Chancellors. (11) All Past Grand Chan- 
cellors. Each of the individuals above enumerated shall be en- 
titled, when present, to one vote in all the proceedings of the 
Supreme Lodge; likewise, (12) Three Representatives of 
each Grand Lodge that holds its charter under the Jurisdiction 



172 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of the Supreme Lodge. These, or as many of them as shall be 
present at any meeting of the Supreme Lodge, shall be entitled 
to one vote each. 

No person shall be eligible to any office in the Supreme 
Lodge, unless he shall be a Past Grand Chancellor. 

On motion of P. G. C. John H. Rheem, the Constitu- 
tion, as reported by the committee, was laid on the table 
by a vote of thirteen in the affirmative to ten in the nega- 
tive. 

Rules to be observed by Grand Lodges in drafting laws 
regulating the government of Subordinate Lodges through 
the action of Grand Lodges, that the Order might work 
uniformly throughout the country, were adopted. 

A committee of five, each delegation naming its mem- 
ber, was appointed to prepare a Constitution for the Order, 
make amendments to the Rituals such as they might deem 
proper, and submit the same to the Supreme Lodge at a 
future session ; also to send printed slips to each Subor- 
dinate Lodge. The members selected were Past Grand 
Chancellors C. M. Barton, John H. Rheem, R. F. S. 
Heath, C. F. Abbott and J. P. Hayes. 

A motion prevailed that the Supreme Lodge, on ad- 
journment, meet again in the city of Wilmington, Del- 
aware, on the 9th of November, and committee instructed 
to have their labors perfected by that time. 

On motion, the Supreme Chancellor was instructed to 
create a pass-word and such sign as he might deem proper 
for this Supreme Lodge. This was done by the Supreme 
Chancellor. A Ritual for the Supreme Lodge was also 
arranged for. 

The purpose for which the meeting was called having 
been accomplished, the Supreme Lodge adjourned to 
meet on the 9th of November. 1868, at Wilmington, Del- 
aware, to hear the report of the Committee on Constitu- 
tion and Rituals. 



history and literature. 1 73 

November 9, 1868. 
The Supreme Lodge met at Wilmington, Delaware, 
pursuant to adjournment, at 11 a. m., in the Hall of the 
Knights of Pythias, the purpose being to hear the report 
of the Committee on Constitution. At this meeting there 
appeared a cloud, which, at first little larger than a man's 
hand and scarcely noticed, afterward developed into a 
storm, which raged long and fiercely, threatening to engulf 
the Supreme Lodge and disrupt the entire Order. We 
refer to the matter of the "Conclaves," the history of 
which we pass by now, to treat more fully in another 
chapter. The address of the Supreme Chancellor, announ- 
cing the matters for consideration by the Supreme Lodge, 
was brief and forcible. The opening portion was as 
follows : 

address of the supreme chancellor. 

Supreme Officers and Representatives: The assembling of all 
bodies, whether *' civil, religious or judicial," is looked to with 
interest by the constituents or those especially engaged in those 
departments. 

We assemble under very peculiar circumstances, holding the 
vital interest of establishing forever a young yet noble Order 
which must meet and struggle bravely against vice, error, and 
prejudice, and combined opposition, in the promulgation and 
practical exemplification of the great principles of the Order. 
Indeed, you are entering upon a great work. 

At this adjourned meeting of the Supreme Lodge from Au- 
gust 11, 1868, you will have presented, and you will pass in judg- 
ment upon the wisdom, adaptation, and justice of the " Consti- 
tution and Law," for the Supreme, Grand, and Subordinate 
Lodges, to be presented by the committee for that purpose. 

You have now anxiously awaiting the result of this session 
thousands of "brave and good men," with earnest prayers that 
your proceedings shall be harmonious, and laws adopted which 
will meet every emergency, and give impetus to our already un- 
precedented prosperity. 



174 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

When we reflect for a moment that the Order of " Knights of 
Pythias" was organized at the capital of this great nation in 
1864, when the most gigantic civil war the world has ever wit- 
nessed, when the nation itself was struggling for its own exist- 
ence, and the North, South, East and West were engaged in 
bloody strife — nay, more, when the very persons who then 
founded the Order were, in feeling and sentiment, nationally, ' ' as 
wide apart as the poles," then it was, and under such trying cir- 
cumstances, a kind Providence put it in their hearts, and has 
blessed their efforts, to establish a new Order, a co-worker with 
other benevolent associations for the amelioration of our fellow 
men. 

In all this, perhaps, we present the most singular anomaly 
that has ever occurred — an Order organized upon the principles 
of Love, Peace and Good Will to man in the very midst of war. 
What a glorious manifestation of manhood and fraternity ; a con- 
firmation of the power of civil liberty. Who can estimate the 
value of such an Order? Oh, my brethren, the true value can 
only be weighed in eternity, by Him who is the Creator and Pre- 
server of all things. 

Let us, then, enter upon the responsible duties that are before 
us with hearts duly impressed with gratitude and love, in full 
confidence that ' ' Paul may plant, Apollos may water, but it is 
God that gives the increase." 

You have now a " Supreme Lodge of the World; " Grand 
Lodges, respectively, in the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia; 
Subordinates in Louisiana, and a dispensation forwarded for a 
Lodge in Nebraska, at Omaha City ; all working in Love, pre- 
senting a membership of forty-five thousand.* 

It need not be asked, ' ' Is there a necessity for such an Order 
as this ?" Lamentably, too true is the daily experience amidst the 
walks of life. The world is the field ; to alleviate suffering is our 
work. Here, then, and "founded on naught but the purest and 
sincerest motives, its aim is to alleviate the suffering of a brother, 
succor the unfortunate, zealously watch at the bedside of the 
sick, soothe the dying pillow, perform the last sad rites at the 

* A mistake on the part of S. C. Read. See page 245. — J. R. C. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 75 

grave of a brother, offering consolation to the afflicted, and caring 
for the widow and orphan. Having these principles in view, 
they will endeavor to exemplify them by practical tests ; and if, 
by the grace of God, it shall successfully carry out this object, 
they will feel that their mission has not been in vain." Thus 
spoke our beloved founders. 

This address disclosed a most marvelous growth of 
the Order if we consider the short time which had elapsed 
since its organization. The period of its existence had 
been but four years and nine months ; considerably more 
than one year of that time the entire country had. been 
passing through the most critical and exciting period of 
the Civil War. Men could think of but little, save the 
great struggle that was then upon us. The news of the 
great battles and campaigns of the two immense armies 
that were then face to face, attracted the attention of all 
classes of men. The thought of the day was war; the 
desire of all was for a termination of the contest as soon as 
it could be done on a permanent and lasting basis. 

Yet, with all the interest that was concentrated in the 
two armies, this child of the war period in this land had 
grown and strengthened, not only in the hearts of the 
founders and fathers of the Order, but in favor with the 
world. The family of seven on February 19, 1864, had 
grown to be thirty-five thousand by the time of the assem- 
bling of the Supreme Lodge in its second meeting, or 
called session, November 9, 1868. Like all new societies, 
however, we find that there was much of the material 
gathered into the young society that should never have 
been brought in ; but these were only the few tares mixed 
with the good wheat, for we can point with pride to the 
leading men of this first Supreme Lodge as models of up- 
rightness and manly worth. Some of them are with us 
yet, honored and revered by all. 

One great feature of this Order, or rather, one peculiar 
mission it seemed to have, and did have, was that of a 



7 6 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



peacemaker between the two sections of our country that 
had been so lately engaged in deadly strife ; for we find that 
the Order had been established in Virginia and Louisiana, 
and from the East it had crossed the Alleghanies, and had 
been established on the west bank of the Missouri River, 
midway between the two oceans, at Omaha, Neb. 

The report of the Supreme Chancellor at this session 
showed also that the prospects were cheering for a yet 
greater conquest of territory by the newly organized 
Pythian army. 

One act of legislation at this adjourned meeting of the 
first session of the Supreme Lodge was the adoption of 

THE SUPREME LODGE SEAL. 

Says Supreme Chancellor Read, in his report : ''Know- 
ing that the official acts of the Supreme officers should be 
attested with a Seal, I appointed a committee of three 
Knights to present suitable designs, viz. : Supreme Re- 
cording and Corresponding Scribe C. M. Barton, and 
Past Grand Chancellors Kronheimer and Carrigan." 

Several designs were presented, but the Seal now used 
was adopted as the Seal of the Supreme Lodge. 

The following is the design of the Seal as then adopted, 
and yet retained. 




HISTORY AND LITERATURE. I J J 

The explanation of the Seal, together with its signifi- 
cance, is given thus : 

The seal is a polygon — five-sided. The five sides represent 
the five Grand Lodges in existence upon the formation of the 
Supreme Lodge. On one side the date of the organization of 
the Supreme Lodge ; on the other, the date of the foundation of 
the Order; over the shield the word Friendship — the corner-stone 
of the Order. On the shield a " flotant," with stars upon it, de- 
noting our ascendency. The perpendicular lines denote the 
color "blue," the dots ''yellow," the horizontal "red," thus 
showing the colors of the Order. The " Dirigo " means "I 
guide " or " I direct." Around the shield are the initials of the 
mottoes, "F. C. B." 

It has been supposed that there was some peculiar 
significance attached to the selection of the colors of the 
Order, red, orange, and blue, but in answer to a letter on 
the subject written to the Founder of the Order, J. H. 
Rathbone, in which he was asked if there was any 
significance in the selection of the colors, he replied 
that there was not, beyond the mere attempt to select 
a trio of colors that were not used by any other 
society or body politic, and the colors named were found 
never to have been so combined, and thus were chosen. 
Afterward, in the design for the "Mark," a significance 
was given to each of the colors, as will appear in the 
description of the design. 

Later on and near the close of this session the Supreme 
Lodge adopted a 

SUPREME LODGE MARK OR EMBLEM. 

The design for the Mark was prepared by P. C. D. 
Robertson, of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 



1/8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The following is a cut of the Mark. 



The description and significance are very complete : 

Nine links of chain signify a quorum • also Temperance and 
Chastity, which bridle unruly passions. 

Chief, or top part of escutcheon, represents the Supreme 
Lodge, with the world, eye, and motto charged thereon. The 
Eye is an emblem of Eternal Vigilance ; the World indicates the 
extent of its jurisdiction, and the Motto, "I direct." Color — 
black, with the border of yellow. Virtue of colors: black, 
"Prudence," yellow, "Constancy." Fess, or middle part of es- 
cutcheon, represents the Grand Lodge, with the Coat of Arms of 
State charged thereon. Color — red, with yellow border. Virtue 
of colors: red, "Magnanimity," yellow, "Constancy." Base, or 
lower part of escutcheon, represents the Subordinate Lodge. 
Dexter base is that which is opposite the left hand of the 
person looking at it. Tilting Spear quartered and letter "P " 
charged thereon, signifying Knight of Pythias. Colors — red and 
white. Virtue of colors : red, " Magnanimity," white, "Purity." 
Middle base — Helmet sidewise, charged thereon, represents the 
"Esquire." Color — yellow. Virtue of color: "Constancy." 
Sinister base, or that which is opposite the right hand of the 
person looking at it, with Bugle Horn charged thereon, represents 
the "Page." Color — blue. Virtue of color : "Loyalty." 

All of the above surrounded by a fancy border, bearing on 
its face sprigs of myrtle and olive, signifying "Friendship," 
"Love," "Peace," and "Concord." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 79 

The Mark is now numbered as one of the things ' ' that 
was and is not." 

At this session was adopted the Ritual for the Supreme 
Lodge. 

Next came the report of the Committee on Regalia for 
the Supreme Lodge, and as this original regalia is now a 
thing of the past it might be interesting for some of our 
most modest Knights to know of the " gaudy ideas" of 
the members of the Supreme Lodge of that early period 
of the Order, and so the description of the Supreme Lodge 
regalia is given. 

The material to be velvet. 

For Supreme Venerable Patriarch. — Collar white, skirted with 
scarlet, trimmed with gilt lace and bullion fringe and tassels. 
On the right breast of the collar shall be embroidered, in gilt 
bullion, a visored helmet, with axe and lance crossed, illustrative 
of the name and character of the Order. On the left breast 
shall be embroidered in gilt bullion, a globe, emblematic of uni- 
versal fraternity, and the supreme authority of this Lodge. The 
jewel to be an open Bible, of yellow metal, and to be worn 
suspended from the collar where the ends are united. 

The Supreme Chancellor, and remaining officers, shall wear 
collars of purple, skirted with scarlet, of the same form, style and 
trimming, including helmet and globe, as the Supreme Venerable 
Patriarch, jewels to be of yellow metal, of the same device as 
those worn by the corresponding officers of the Grand and Sub- 
ordinate Lodges; and to be worn suspended from the collar, the 
same as the Supreme Venerable Patriarch. 

Past Supreme Chancellors. — Purple collar, skirted with scarlet 
and white, the scarlet to be inside. To be trimmed with helmet, 
globe, tassels, lace and fringe, the same as those already described. 
Jewel, Knight's Mark, or coat of arms, with the words "Past 
Supreme Chancellor " on the circle or oval surrounding the helmet. 

Members. — Black collar, trimmed with gilt lace and fringe. 

The Founder of the Order to have the same collar as a Past 
Supreme Chancellor, except that the words should be changed 
to the "Founder of the Order, K. of P." 



i8o 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



At this session was reported a translation into the 
German language of the ritual for Subordinate Lodges, 
but when the same was called up it was found that the 
chairman of the committee to whom it was referred had 
pocketed it and gone to Philadelphia, carrying it with 
him, and a committee of one was deputized to go to 
Philadelphia and find the missing chairman and rescue the 
papers. On the last day of the session the special com- 
mittee-man returned from Philadelphia with the German 
translation of the ritual, and the same being read, was 
adopted. Thus at the first session, our German brothers 
were provided with a ritual in their own language. 

On the afternoon of the second and last day of the 
session was taken up for consideration the Constitutions of 
the Supreme, Grand and Subordinate Lodges, which were 
read and adopted by sections. 

These Constitutions have been changed to a greater or 
less extent at each session of the Supreme Lodge since their 
adoption in 1868, so that the Constitutions of the present 
have but a small portion of the material that constituted the 
first. * 

CONSTITUTION 



SUPREME LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Adopted at Wilmington, Delaware, Nov. 10, 1868. 
ARTICLE I. 

Section i. The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias is the 
supreme power of the Order. 

Sec 2. It is the source of all true and legitimate authority 
over the Order, and possesses, as such, supreme and absolute 

* These original Constitutions have been very difficult to procure, and 
I am indebted to P. G. C. and P. S. R. W. D. Kennedy, of Chicago, for 
the copy herewith. — J. R. C. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. l8l 

power over the same and all the work belonging thereto. To it 
belongs the exclusive right to establish, regulate and control the 
forms, ceremonies, written and unwritten work, and to change, 
alter, or annul the same ; to provide and print all forms, cere- 
monies, cards, odes, and rituals, and to provide the style of 
regalia and emblems. 

Sec. 3. To it belongs the power to establish the Order in 
States, Districts, Territories, or Foreign Countries wherein the 
same has not been engrafted; also, to enact all laws and regu- 
lations of general application for the government of the Order, 
and it possesses all power and authority not expressly delegated 
to Grand or Subordinate Lodges by their charters or dispen- 
sations, or general laws of the Order. 

Sec. 4. To it belongs the right and power of granting char- 
ters or dispensations to Grand Lodges, and to Subordinate Lodges 
in jurisdictions where no Grand Lodge exists. 

ARTICLE II. 
HOW CONSTITUTED.* 

The Supreme Lodge shall consist of: 

1. Founder and Past Supreme Chancellor; 

2 Supreme Venerable Patriarch ; 

3. Supreme Chancellor (Presiding Officer) ; 

4. Supreme Vice Chancellor ; 

5. Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe ; 

6. Supreme Banker; 

7. Supreme Guide; 

8. Supreme Inner Steward ; 

9. Supreme Outer Steward; (likewise,) 
10. All Past Supreme Chancellors; 

n. All Past Grand Chancellors. 
Each of the individuals above enumerated shall be entitled, 
when present, to one vote in all the proceedings of the Supreme 
Lodge ; (likewise,) 

12. Three Representatives of each Grand Lodge (who 

* Titles of officers were changed in the adoption of the amended 
Constitution, Session of S. L. 1874. 



1 82 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

shall be Past Grand Chancellors, except in cases of new Grand 
Lodges) that hold their charter under the jurisdiction of the 
Supreme Lodge. 

No person shall be eligible to any office in the Supreme Lodge 
unless he is a Past Grand Chancellor. 

ARTICLE III. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

Section i. The Supreme Venerable Patriarch shall open 
and close the Supreme Lodge with prayer. 

Sec. 2. The Supreme Chancellor shall exercise, as occasion 
may require, all the rights appertaining to his high office, in ac- 
cordance with the usages of the Order. He shall have a watch- 
ful supervision over all Lodges, Grand and Subordinate, and see 
that all the constitutional enactments, rules and edicts of the 
Supreme Lodge are duly and promptly observed, and that the 
dress, work and discipline of the Order everywhere are uniform. 

Among his special prerogatives are the following : 

To call special sessions of the Supreme Lodge. 

To visit and preside at any Lodge, Grand or Subordinate, and 
give such instructions and directions as the good of the Order 
may require, always adhering to the landmarks of the Order. 
To cause to be executed and securely to preserve and keep the 
official bonds and securities of the Supreme Banker," and Su- 
preme Recording and Corresponding Scribe. 

To grant letters of dispensation during the recess of the 
Supreme Lodge for the institution of new Lodges, with dispen- 
sations to be in force until charters are granted in lieu thereof, 
and to promptly notify the Supreme Recording and Corre- 
sponding Scribe of the issuing of said letters of dispensation. 

To grant dispensations during the recess of the Supreme 
Lodge for the institution of State Grand Lodges in States, Dis- 
tricts or Territories, where the same have not been heretofore 
established. 

To manage the contingent fund of the Supreme Lodge. 

To appoint a Deputy Grand Chancellor in all States, Districts, 
Territories or Foreign Countries, where Lodges are established, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE, 1 83 

and not having any Grand Lodge. He shall at the annual 
session present a report of his acts during the recess of the 
Supreme Lodge. He may hear and decide such appeals and 
questions of law as may be submitted to him by Grand and Sub- 
ordinate Lodges, and all such decisions shall be binding upon 
the bodies submitting the same until reversed by this Supreme. 
Lodge. He shall establish a pass-word semi-annually, which 
shall be the same throughout the country. 

Sec. 3. The Supreme Vice Chancellor, in the event of the 
death, removal, or physical incompetency of his superior, shall 
act as Supreme Chancellor, and at all other times he shall per- 
form such duties as may be assigned him by the Supreme Lodge 
or the Supreme Chancellor. 

Sec. 4. The Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe 
shall keep a just and true record of all the proceedings of the 
Supreme Lodge at each session, and transmit annually to each 
Grand Lodge as many copies thereof as the Lodge has Past 
Grand Chancellors and officers, and two copies to each Sub- 
ordinate Lodge. He shall collect all the revenues of the Supreme 
Lodge and pay over the amount to the Supreme Banker when- 
ever it reaches the sum of $100. He shall preserve the archives, 
have charge of the seal, books, papers, and other properties of 
the Supreme Lodge, and deliver the same to his successor when 
required so to do by the Supreme Lodge. He shall prepare all 
charters and dispensations for Grand and Subordinate Lodges; 
notify officially all Grand Lodges and members of the Supreme 
Lodge of all sessions of the Supreme Lodge ; carry on the neces- 
sary correspondence of the lodge; keep a register which shall 
contain a list of all charters or dispensations granted to Grand or 
Subordinate Lodges, and a record of all Past Grand Chancellors 
and Representatives entitled to seats in the Supreme Lodge. He 
shall attest all official papers and documents, perform such other 
duties as are required by the laws and regulations of the Order, 
and as the Supreme Lodge may from time to time direct. He 
shall be furnished with an office and shall have regular office 
hours, and give notice to all Grand Lodges of the time at which 
he will so attend, and, at each annual session, present a report 
of the general condition of the Order to this Supreme Lodge. 



184 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

He shall have power to provide himself, at the expense of the 
Supreme Lodge, with such books, papers and stationery as are 
necessary for the fulfillment of his duties, and keep in his office a 
copy of the seal of each Grand and Subordinate Lodge. He 
shall render annually to the Finance Committee copies of his 
accounts with Grand and Subordinate Lodges, etc. He shall 
receive for his services the sum of five hundred dollars, payable 
quarterly. He shall give bond in the sum of one thousand 
dollars for the faithful performance of his duties. 

Sec. 5. The Supreme Banker shall render to the Supreme 
Lodge, at its annual session, a true and perfect account of his 
doings, together with an account of all moneys received and 
disbursed — the earnings thereon accrued from investments. To 
pay all orders drawn on him by the Supreme Chancellor, properly 
attested by the S. R. and C. S. For the faithful performance 
of his duties he shall give bond in the sum of one thousand 
dollars. 

Sec. 6. The duties of the Supreme Guide, Inner and Outer 
Steward, are such as are traditionally appropriate to their 
respective stations, or such as may be assigned them by the 
Supreme Lodge. 

Sec. 7. All Deputy Grand Chancellors (of jurisdictions in 
which there are no Grand Lodges) shall install the officers of all 
Subordinate Lodges within their jurisdiction, or cause the same 
to be done, and perform such other duties as the Supreme Chan- 
cellor may direct. 

ARTICLE IV. 

SESSIONS. 

The meetings shall be held annually on the second Tuesday 
in March, at such place as may be agreed upon by a majority of 
votes at a regular annual session. 

ARTICLE V. 

COMMITTEES. 

Section, i. The following Committees shall be appointed 
annually by the Supreme Chancellor : Committee on Laws and 
Supervision ; Committee on Finance and Mileage ; Committee 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 85 

on Appeals and Grievances ; Committee on Returns and Cre- 
dentials. 

Sec. 2. The Committee on Laws and Supervision shall 
examine the Constitution, General Laws, and By-Laws of Grand 
Lodges, and all By-Laws of Subordinate Lodges (where there are 
no Grand Lodges) under its jurisdiction before being printed, 
correct any article or section which may conflict with the Con- 
stitution and General Laws of the Supreme Lodge. They shall, 
when such subjects are presented to the Supreme Lodge and 
duly referred to them, inquire into all cases of infraction of the 
established laws and regulations of the Order, and recommend 
such measures as they may deem expedient for correcting the 
innovation. 

Sec. 3. The Committee on Finance and Mileage shall 
examine the accounts of the Supreme Banker and the S. R. and 
C. S. at each annual session, and whenever required to do so by 
the Supreme Lodge. They shall examine all bills presented to 
the Supreme Lodge, and when correct report the same for 
payment. 

They shall compute the mileage of Officers and Represent- 
atives, and report the amount to which each is entitled, and no 
order shall be drawn for such amount until the bill for the same 
is endorsed by a majority of the Committee. 

Sec. 4. The Committee on Appeals and Grievances shall 
hear all appeals and grievances from Grand Lodges or members 
of Lodges referred to them by the Supreme Lodge or Supreme 
Chancellor, and report thereon with the utmost despatch. 

Sec. 5. The Committee on Returns and Credentials shall 
examine the returns of Grand Lodges and Subordinate Lodges 
not working under the control of a State Grand Lodge, and the 
credentials of all Past Grand Chancellors and Representatives to 
the Supreme Lodge. 

Sec 6. Each of the above-named Committees shall consist 
of three members, and when serving on actual work during a 
recess shall have their necessary expenses paid. 



1 86 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ARTICLE VI. 

MANNER OF FORMING A GRAND LODGE. 

Section i. All Subordinate Lodges in jurisdictions where 
no Grand Lodge exists shall be under the immediate control of 
this Supreme Lodge until the formation of a Grand Lodge of 
that jurisdiction, and shall pay to the Supreme Lodge while under 
its control five per cent, on its gross receipts semi-annually. 

Sec. 2. When there are five Subordinate Lodges established 
and in working order in any jurisdiction, the Deputy Grand 
Chancellor thereof shall notify the Supreme Chancellor, who shall 
cause the Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe to notify 
the Lodges of that jurisdiction to elect three Representatives for one 
year, on the first meeting night after the receipt of the communi- 
cation. 

Sec 3. The Past Chancellors of the five Lodges, together 
with the Representatives elect, shall meet at such place as may 
be specified by the Supreme Chancellor, and proceed to organize 
a Grand Lodge by electing a V. G. P., G. C, V. G. C, G. R. 
and C. S., G. B., G. G., G. I. S., and G. O. S., and three 
Representatives to the Supreme Lodge, all of whom must be 
Past Chancellors. 

Sec 4. A notice of their organization, together with a list of 
their officers, shall be forwarded to the Supreme R. and C. Scribe 
through the Supreme Chancellor, and the latter officer shall 
install, or cause to be installed, the officers-elect of said Grand 
Lodge, after which it shall proceed to frame By-Laws for its own 
government not inconsistent with the laws promulgated by this 
body. 

ARTICLE VII. 

QUORUM OF VOTES. 

A majority of the Grand Lodges shall constitute a quorum to 
transact business, and a member of a Grand Lodge whose returns 
for the year have not been forwarded to the Supreme Lodge shall 
in no case be entitled to a vote, except by unanimous consent. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 87 

ARTICLE VIII. 

REVENUE. 

Section i. Each Grand Lodge shall pay to the Supreme 
Lodge the sum of $50 annually for each representative they are 
entitled to. 

Sec. 2. The charter fees shall be as follows : 
For Grand Lodges, $30. 
Subordinate Lodges, $15. 
Sec. 3. Grand Lodge Ritual, $3 each, and $15 per set. 
Subordinate Lodge Ritual (to Grand Lodges), $2 each and 

$10 per set. 
Installation Work (to Grand Lodges), 25 cents each, $1 

per set. 
Odes (to Grand Lodges), 2 T / 2 cents each, $2.50 per 

hundred. 
Withdrawal Cards (to Grand Lodges), 25 cents each. 
Sec. 4. To Subordinate Lodges : 

Rituals, - - $4 00 each - - $20 00 per set. 
Installations, - 50 each - - 2 00 per set. 
Odes, - - - - 05 each - - - 5 00 per set. 
Sec. 5. All work delivered to Grand and Subordinate Lodges 
must be paid for within three months after date of delivery. 

ARTICLE IX. 

MILEAGE. 

The Supreme Lodge shall pay the mileage and necessary 
expenses of its officers and representatives. 

The mileage shall be at the rate of six cents per mile. 

ARTICLE X, 
• ELECTION OF SUPREME LODGE OFFICERS. 

Section i. The Supreme Lodge Officers shall be elected 
biennially, the first election after the adoption of this Constitution 
occuring on the second Tuesday in March, A. D. 1870. 

Sec. 2. The Supreme Lodge Officers shall be elected by 
ballot. A majority of all the votes present shall be necessary to 



1 88 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

constitute a choice. In case of a tie, the balloting shall continue 
until a choice is made; the name of the brother receiving the 
lowest number of votes at each balloting shall be withdrawn. 

ARTICLE XI. 
DELINQUENT GRAND LODGES. 

Any Grand Lodge neglecting to forward its returns, together 
with the Representative tax, due previous to the annual session 
of the Supreme Lodge, shall disqualify its members from voting 
in the Supreme Lodge, and shall not be entitled to receive the 
pass word until said returns and payments are made 

ARTICLE XII. 
REGALIA. 

The Regalia of the Supreme Lodge shall be as follows : 

For Founder and Past Supreme Chancellor, a purple collar 
skirted with scarlet and white; the scarlet to be inside, to be 
trimmed with helmet, globe and tassels, lace and fringe of gilt 
bullion. Jewel — Knight's mark or coat of arms, with the words, 
"Founder of the Order K. of P." engraved on the border. 

For Past Supreme Chancellors — The same collar and jewel, 
but upon the latter " Past Supreme Chancellor" on the circle or 
oval surrounding the helmet, instead of "Founder," etc. 

For Supreme Venerable Patriarch — White collar skirted with 
scarlet, trimmed with gilt lace and bullion fringe and tassels. 
On the right breast of the collar shall be embroidered in gilt 
bullion a visored helmet, with axe and lance crossed, illustrative 
of the name and general character of the Order. On the left 
breast shall be embroidered in gilt bullion a globe,- emblematical 
of universal fraternity and the supreme authority of this Lodge. 
The Jewel shall be an open Bible of yellow metal, and to be 
worn suspended from the collar where the ends are united. 

The Supreme Chancellor and remaining officers shall wear 
collars of purple, skirted with scarlet, of the same form, style and 
and trimming (including helmet and globe) as the Supreme Ven- 
erable Patriarch. Jewels to be of yellow metal, of the same 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 89 

device as those worn by the corresponding officers of Grand and 
Subordinate Lodges, and to be worn suspended from the collar 
in the same manner as above stated. 

For P. G. C's, black collar, trimmed with gilt lace and fringe. 

For Supreme Representatives, the same, with "S. R." upon 
the collar, in gilt bullion. 

No member shall be allowed to enter the Supreme Lodge when 
in session unless clothed in the established regalia of his rank. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

No alteration or amendment to the Constitution of the Su- 
preme, Grand or Subordinate Lodges shall be made unless pre- 
sented at an annual session, and adopted by a two-third vote. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

RULES OF ORDER. 

1®*" Gushing' s Manual" shall govern the parliamentary 
practice of this Supreme Lodge. 

ARTICLE XV. 

No visiting cards shall be used in this Order, and the password 
shall be the same throughout the country, and to be changed 
semi-annually. 



CONSTITUTION FOR GRAND LODGES. 

ARTICLE I. 

This body shall be known as the Grand Lodge of Knights 
of Pythias of the State of 

ARTICLE II. 
COMPOSITION. 

It shall be composed of all Past Chancellors of Subordinate 
Lodges in the State. 



I9O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ARTICLE III. 
JURISDICTION. 

This Grand Lodge shall have jurisdiction over all Lodges 

of Knights of Pythias within the State of . It possesses 

the right and power of granting charters, of suspending or taking 
away the same upon proper cause, of receiving and hearing all 
appeals, of redressing grievances and complaints arising in the 
Lodges under its jurisdiction, of enacting By-Laws for its govern- 
ment and support, providing the same are not in violation of the 
laws of the Supreme Lodge. 

ARTICLE IV. 

QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS. 

Every member of, and Representative to the G. L. , must be 

regular contributing members in good standing of a Subordinate 

Lodge. 

ARTICLE V. 

SESSIONS. 

Section i. This Grand Lodge shall hold an Arrmial Session 

on the day of January, and a Semi- Annual Session on the 

day of July. The hour and place of meeting shall be fixed as 
the Grand Lodge may determine. 

Sec 2. At the session of July the returns of the Subordinate 
Lodges for the previous six months will be received, and nomi- 
nations made for officers for the ensuing year, and such other 
business transacted as may come legally before the Grand Lodge. 

Sec. 3. At the annual session in January the returns for the 
previous six months will be received, the officers of the Grand 
Lodge for the ensuing year elected and installed, and such other 
business transacted as may be determined upon. 

ARTICLE VI. 
OFFICERS. 

Section i. The elective officers shall be the G. C.,V. G. C., 
G. R. and C. S., and G. B., and Grand Representatives to the 
Supreme Lodge. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. I9I 

The appointive officers shall be the Grand Guide, Grand Inner 
and Outer Stewards, the District Deputy Grand Chancellors. 
The retiring Grand Chancellor shall fill the office of Venerable 
Grand Patriarch. 

Sec. 2. The Grand Chancellor shall preside at all sessions 
of the Grand Lodge, enforce order and decorum; decide all 
questions of order without debate, subject, however, to an appeal 
to the Grand Lodge by two members; appoint Grand Officers 
pro tem. in case of temporary absence or disqualification of any 
Grand Officer; appoint all committees, unless otherwise ordered; 
sign all orders drawn on the Grand Banker, for such sums as may 
be voted by the Grand Lodge, and such other papers as may 
require his signature to authenticate them; exercise a general 
supervision over the Order in this jurisdiction. He shall call the 
Vice Grand Chancellor to his chair during the discussion of any 
question before the Grand Lodge on which he may desire to 
speak. He shall, on the day of his installation, appoint the 
following committees, to serve for the term of one year, to wit : 
A Committee on Laws and Supervision. 
A Committee on Finance and Mileage. 
A Committee on Appeals and Grievances. 
A Committee on Returns and Credentials. 

He shall, at each stated session, present and cause to be read 
to this Grand Lodge his semi-annual report. He shall visit, 
officially, at least once during his term of office, accompanied by 
such of his Grand Officers as he may select, each Subordinate 
Lodge in the district in which he resides. All necessary reasonable 
expenses incurred on such visits shall be paid by this Grand 
Lodge. 

Sec. 3. The Vice Grand Chancellor is the counsellor and 
assistant of the Grand Chancellor. In the absence of the Grand 
Chancellor he shall preside over the Grand Lodge. In case 
of the removal, death, resignation or inability of the Grand 
Chancellor, the powers of said officer shall devolve on the Vice 
Grand Chancellor for the time being. 

Sec. 4. The Grand Recording and Corresponding Scribe 
shall keep a just and true record of all the proceedings of the 
Grand Lodge at each session, and transmit annually to each Sub- 



I92 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ordinate Lodge as many copies thereof as the Lodge has Past 
Chancellors and Officers; preserve the archives, have charge 
of the seal, books, papers and other properties of the Grand 
Lodge, and deliver the same to his successor when required so to 
do by the Grand Lodge ; prepare all charters and dispensations 
for Subordinate Lodges ; notify officially all Subordinate Lodges 
within the State of all meetings of the Grand Lodge ; carry on 
the necessary correspondence of the Grand Lodge ; keep a register, 
which shall contain a list of all charters granted to Subordinate 
Lodges, and a record of all Past Chancellors and Representatives 
entitled to seats in this Grand Lodge ; also keep a record, and 
notify all Subordinate Lodges on the receipt of such information, 
of all rejected candidates and suspended members; attest all 
official papers and documents ; perform such other duties as are 
required by the Laws and Regulations of the Order, and as the 
Grand Lodge may from time to time direct ; have his regular 
office hours, and give notice to the Subordinate Lodges of the 
time at which he will so attend, and at each annual session present 
a report of the general condition of the Order to this Grand 
Lodge. He shall have power to provide himself, at the expense 
of the Grand Lodge, with such books, papers and stationery as 
are necessary for the fulfillment of his duties; and keep in his 
office a copy of the seal of each Subordinate Lodge in his Juris- 
diction. 

He shall receive all moneys due to the Grand Lodge, and 
pay them over immediately to the Grand Banker, taking his 
receipt therefor, and keep an exact and true account of the same ; 
draw all orders on the Grand Banker for such moneys as may be 
voted by the Grand Lodge, and attest the same ; report in writing 
at the annual session, and at other times when so required by the 
Grand Lodge, the condition of the funds of the Grand Lodge 
and of the accounts of Subordinate Lodges, and deliver the books 
to the Finance Committee whenever they may demand them. 
For the faithful performance of his duties he shall receive the 
sum of dollars per annum. 

Sec. 5. The Grand Banker shall receive all funds for the use 
of the Grand Lodge from the Grand Recording and Correspond- 
ing Scribe, giving him a receipt for the same; pay all orders drawn 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 93 

on him by the Grand Chancellor, properly attested; keep the 
accounts in a proper manner, exhibiting the sources and amounts 
of receipts, and the purposes and amounts of disbursements, and 
give a statement in writing thereof, at the stated session, or when- 
ever required to do so by the Grand Lodge. At the expiration 
of his term of office he shall deliver all books, papers and moneys 
(belonging to the Grand Lodge, in his possession) to his successor. 
Before entering upon the duties of his office, he shall give such 
security for the faithful performance of his trust as the Grand 
Lodge may deem satisfactory, and deliver the books to the Finance 
Committee for examination whenever they may demand them. 

Sec. 6. The Grand Guide shall assist in the ceremonies of the 
Grand Lodge, and in preserving order therein, examine and con- 
duct new members and Representatives in the Grand Lodge, and 
execute the commands of the Grand Chancellor. 

Sec. 7. The Grand Inner Steward shall have charge of the 
inner door. He shall see that all members of the Grand Lodge 
are clothed in appropriate regalia before entering the lodge-room. 

Sec. 8. The Grand Outer Steward shall have charge of the 
outer door, allow no person to enter the ante-room without the 
pass-word, unless ordered so to do by the Grand Chancellor, and 
be responsible for the safe-keeping of all regalias, jewels and other 
property of the Grand Lodge, while that body is in session. For 
the faithful performance of his duties he shall receive not less 
than dollars per annum. 

Sec. 9. The Representatives to the Supreme Lodge shall 
attend all meetings of that body, and faithfully represent the 
views and interests of this Grand Lodge therein. They shall be 
furnished with certificates of election in such form as may be 
prescribed. 

Sec 10. The D. D. Grand Chancellor is the representative 
of the Grand Chancellor in the district placed under his juris- 
diction, and it shall be his duty to see that the work of the Order 
is performed uniformly; to install, or cause to be installed, the 
officers of the Lodges under his charge, and report his doings to 
the Grand Chancellor in time for the sessions of the Grand Lodge. 
He shall receive the dues and quarterly reports from the Lodges 
in his district and transmit them to the Grand Recording and 



194 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Corresponding Scribe, within one week after the installation of 
officers of Subordinate Lodges. He shall receive from the Grand 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe all dispensations for new 
Lodges under his jurisdiction, after they may have been granted 
by this Grand Lodge or the Grand Officers, and with the assist- 
ance of such brethren as he may deem qualified, open such new 
Lodges, deliver the dispensations and install the officers. He 
shall, when visiting Subordinate Lodges in his district, be pro- 
vided with his commission, to be delivered to him by the Grand 
Chancellor on his appointment. He shall also perform such 
other duties as the Grand Lodge or the Grand Chancellor may, 
from time to time, order and direct. All necessary and reason- 
able expenses of the D. D. Grand Chancellor shall be paid by 
the Grand Lodge. 

ARTICLE VII. 

MODE OF ELECTION OF GRAND LODGE OFFICERS. 

Section i. Each Grand Lodge shall regulate the manner 
of electing its officers. The Grand Lodge shall pay the mileage 
and necessary expenses of its Officers and Representatives. The 
rate shall be cents per mile. 

Sec 2. The Representatives to the Supreme Lodge must be 
elected for two years, and must be Past Grand Chancellors. In 
case of new Grand Lodges the V. G. P. and G. C. shall, by vir- 
tue of their offices, become Past Grand Chancellors and Repre- 
sentatives to the Supreme Lodge; provided, however, that they 
shall serve out their term of office in the Grand Lodge for which 
they were elected. 

Sec 3. The installation shall take place immediately after 
the result of the election is announced. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

REGALIA. 

Section i . The working regalia shall be as follows : 

V. G. P. — Black velvet collar, trimmed with gold fringe, and 

open Bible in gold on left side. 

P. G. Chancellors — Black velvet collar, trimmed with gold 

fringe, with P. G. C. embroidered in gold on left side. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 95 

P. Chancellors — Red velvet collar, trimmed with gold fringe. 

Representatives — Same as Past Chancellors, rosette with num- 
ber of Lodge on left side. Said rosette to be furnished by the 
Subordinate Lodge represented. 

Officers — Same as Past Chancellors, with the insignia of office 
embroidered in gold on left side. 

Sec. 2, The established outside regalia, if used, shall be as 
follows : 

For G. C. — An apron made of the best black silk velvet, 
with lappel, and upon lappel letters K. P., crossed lances and 
helmet, with letters F. C. B. arched over it, and letters P. C. on 
either side of the apron — the whole apron to be fringed with 
silver, one and a half inches in length, and all letters and emblems 
to be embroidered in silver. In addition a black rosette of rib- 
bon-work upon the lappel of the coat, on the rosette crossed 
gavels in white metal, movable. On the outer edge of the apron, 
adjoining the fringe, will be placed a red velvet border, adjoining 
that a border of gold, then a border of blue velvet. 

For V. G. C. — Same as G. C, except on rosette but one 
gavel. 

For V. G. P. — Same as G. C, og rosette open Bible. 

For G. R. S. — Same as G. C.,, >n rosette crossed pens. 

For G. B. — Same as G. C, on xosette crossed keys. 

For G. G. — Same as G. C, on rosette staffs crossed. 

For G. I. S. — Same as G. C, on rosette crossed swords. 

For G. O. S. — Same as G. C, on rosette one sword. 

For Repr. — Same as G. C, on rosette letter R. 

For P. C. — Same as G. C, no rosette. 

For District Deputy Grand Chancellor, the working regalia 
shall be red velvet collar, trimmed with gold fringe, and the 
letters D. G. C. embroidered thereon in gold. The apron regalia 
of the D. G. C. shall be the same as the Past Chancellor's regalia. 
He shall also wear a rosette with D. G. C. upon it. 

ARTICLE IX. 
RETURNS AND DUES OF SUBORDINATE LODGES. 

At the end of each term each Subordinate Lodge shall pay 
to the Grand Lodge as dues not less than — cents per capita tax 



I96 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

for every Knight in good standing, the number of which shall be 
shown upon the report. They shall also return the blank fur- 
nished by the Grand Lodge, properly filled out, with signature of 
the W. C. and R. S. attached, and an impression of the seal 
upon it. 

ARTICLE X. 

OF DELINQUENT OR DEFUNCT LODGES. 

Section i. Any Lodge may be suspended or dissolved, and 
its charter or dispensation forfeited to the Grand Lodge : 

1. For improper conduct. 

2. For neglecting or refusing to conform to the Constitution 
or Laws of the Grand Lodge, or the general laws and regulations 
of the Order. 

3. For neglecting or refusing to make its returns, or for non- 
payment of dues to the Grand Lodge. But the charter or dis- 
pensation shall not be forfeited in either of the above cases until 
the Lodge shall have been duly notified of its offense by the 
Grand Recording and Corresponding Scribe, and suitable oppor- 
tunity given them to answer the charges made against it. 

4. For neglecting to hoW the regular stated meeting as pro- 
vided by law, unless prevent i d from doing so by some unforeseen 
circumstance. 

5. By its membership diminishing, so that less than a con- 
stitutional quorum may be left. 

Sec. 2. When an impeached Lodge neglects or refuses to 
answer within a given time, it may be tried and suspended for 
contempt. To suspend a Lodge requires a two-third vote of all 
the members present who may be entitled to vote. 

Sec 3. When a Lodge is suspended or dissolved, it shall be 
the duty of its last W. C, or, if there is none, of its senior 
officer, to deliver up the dispensation or charter, books, jewels, 
funds, emblems, regalia and other property and effects to the 
Grand Chancellor or his Deputy, and if any officer or member 
having custody of any part of the said property or effects refuses 
to surrender the same he may be forever excluded from member- 
ship in the Order, even if his Lodge should be reinstated. 

Sec 4. All funds and effects received by the Grand Lodge 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. Ig? 

from a dissolved or suspended Subordinate Lodge shall be re- 
stored in the event of its being reinstated, which reinstatement 
may be done by the majority vote of the Grand Lodge at a stated 
or special session. 

Sec. 5. Members of any defunct Lodge who were in good 
standing at the time of the dissolution may be admitted into any 
other Lodge, after having applied to and received from the Grand 
Lodge a card signed by the Grand Chancellor and countersigned 
by the Grand Recording and Corresponding Scribe, with the seal 
of the Grand Lodge attached. The application for such card 
must be accompanied by the fee of $2 ; the card to hold good 

twelve months. 

ARTICLE XL 

QUORUM AND VOTING. 

Section i. In all cases where the number of Lodges in a 
jurisdiction exceeds 100, one-third of the Lodges, if represented, 
shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the Lodges shall con- 
stitute a quorum in all other cases. 

Sec. 2. Each Grand Lodge shall regulate its manner of 
voting. 

ARTICLE XII. 

REVENUE. 

Each Grand Lodge shall regulate the price of charters or dis- 
pensations, rituals, installation work, odes and withdrawal cards. 
The four last named articles must in all cases be procured from 
the Supreme Lodge. In no case shall the price of charters be 
less than $15. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

DISPENSATIONS. 

Dispensations can be granted by the Grand Chancellor or his 
Deputy, upon application from a Lodge, for the following pur- 
poses : 

To propose, elect and initiate at the same session. 

To confer the three degrees at the same session. 

To confer the degrees upon a person over 50 years of age. 



I98 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ARTICLE XIV. 
BY-LAWS, RULES OF ORDER AND ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

Each Grand Lodge shall regulate its Order of Business, and 
shall form its own By-Laws, provided they are not in violation of 
this Constitution. 

For the Rules of Order "Cushing's Manual" shall be the 

guide. 

ARTICLE XV. 

BLANKS. 

The following blanks will be furnished by the Grand Record- 
ing and Corresponding Scribe : 
Blank semi-annual returns. 
Blank Past Chancellor's Certificate. 
Blank Representative's Certificate. 
Blank Dispensation. 

Blank District Deputy Grand Chancellor's Commission. 
Blank Form of Application for Charter. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

Each Grand Lodge shall regulate the mode of election for 
officers in Subordinate Lodges and the mode of balloting; 
establish the duties of Subordinate Lodge Officers ; establish the 
mode of conducting charges and trials. 

ARTICLE XVII. 
No visiting cards shall be used in the Order. 



CONSTITUTION FOR SUBORDINATE LODGES. 

ARTICLE I. 

Section i. A Lodge shall never consist of less than seven 
members of the Knight's Rank, including one qualified to preside, 
and shall hold stated meetings at least once a week, at such an 
hour as may from time to time be determined upon. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 1 99 

Sec. 2. Not less than seven members shall constitute a quo- 
rum for .the transaction of business, and if seven members only 
be present no appropriations of money shall be made, unless it be 
by unanimous consent. 

Sec. 3. Special meetings may be held at such times as the 
business of the Lodge may require, but they shall be confined to 
the business that they were called to consider. The W. C. may 
call such meetings at his own discretion, and also when requested 
so to do in writing by five members of the Lodge. 

Sec. 4. Every Lodge shall be opened at the appointed time, 
and in the absence of the W. C. the V. C. shall preside ; and in 
the absence of both, the senior P. C; and if no P. C. be present 
a Knight may be called to the chair by a majority of the mem- 
bers present. 

Sec. 5. The Lodge shall transact its actual business in the 

Knight's Rank. 

ARTICLE II. 

OFFICERS. 

Section i. The elective officers of this Lodge shall be the 
W. C. and V. C. , who shall be elected semi-annually, in June 
and December ; and the Recording Scribe, Financial Scribe and 
Banker, who shall be elected annually by ballot, at the last meet- 
ing in December. 

The retiring W. C. shall fill the office of Past Chancellor. 

Sec. 2. The appointive officers shall be the Guide, Inner 
Steward and Outer Steward, who shall be appointed by the newly 
elected W. C. on the night of his installation. 

Sec. 3. Any Knight in good standing, having served one 
full term in an appointive office, shall be eligible to the office of 
V. C. 

Sec. 4. Nominations for all the above elective officers shall 
be made on the night preceding and on the night of election, 
except to fill a vacancy. 

Sec. 5. Officers shall be installed at the first regular meeting 
in the new term, if unforeseen circumstances do not prevent it. 
But no member shall be installed who is indebted to the Lodge, 
nor shall any officer who has been installed retain his seat if he 
shall be in arrears to the amount of six months' dues. 



200 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Sec. 6. All vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the 
original selection, to serve the residue of the term, and officers 
so serving shall be entitled to the honors of the term. 

ARTICLE III. 

MODE OF ELECTION. 

The Grand Lodge shall regulate the mode of election for 

officer or officers. 

ARTICLE IV. 

VOTING. 

The G. L. shall determine the manner of voting. 

ARTICLE V. 
MEMBERSHIP AND DEGREES. 

Section i. No person shall be initiated into a Lodge who is 
under twenty-one or over fifty years of age (unless by dispensa- 
tion), nor unless he be a white male citizen of good moral 
character, sound in health, and a believer in the Supreme 
Being. Every application for membership must be accompanied 
with the initiation fee, the amount of which shall not be less than 
four dollars. The fee for the Esquire Degree shall never be less 
than three dollars, and the fee for the Knight Degree shall never 
be less than three dollars. The initiation fee shall in all cases 
accompany the application. 

Sec 2. Applications for initiation must be signed by the 
petitioner, stating his age, residence and occupation, and en- 
dorsed by two Knights in good standing, who are members of 
the Lodge, which must be entered on the records, and the peti- 
tion referred to a committee of three for investigation (neither of 
whom shall have recommended him), whose duty it shall be to 
report on the character and qualifications of the petitioner at the 
next regular meeting. The applicant shall then be balloted for, 
and if approved he may be admitted. 

Sec 3. Should two black balls appear against a candidate, 
the ballot shall be renewed immediately. Should two or more 
appear on the second ballot, he shall be declared rejected, and 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 26 1 

no other ballot shall be taken in his case for the space of six 
months thereafter. 

Sec. 4. One week must elapse between the conferring of 
the degrees, in all cases, except the first four meeting nights of a 
new Lodge ; but in all cases one week must elapse between the 
application and the conferring of the initiatory Page Degree. 

• (The above section shall not apply to cases where dispensa- 
tions are granted.) 

Sec. 5. Any brother of the Order, in good standing, desir- 
ous of becoming a member of a Lodge, shall send his withdrawal 
card from the Lodge of which he was last a member, or the card 
granted by the Grand Lodge in lieu thereof, which shall be 
referred to a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to report 
as to the standing and qualifications of the applicant at the next 
regular meeting. The brother shall then be balloted for, and if 
he receives a two-thirds vote of the members present he shall be 
delared elected. Any brother who may have lost his card, or 
which may be out of date, can have the same renewed by apply- 
ing to the source from which it emanated. 

Sec. 6. No proposition for membership shall be withdrawn 
after it has been referred to a committee, except by unanimous 
consent, and all whose cases are so referred shall be balloted for 
upon the report of the committee, whether it be favorable or 
unfavorable. 

Sec. 7. When an applicant for membership has been 
rejected, notice of his rejection shall be immediately sent by the 
Recording Scribe to the Grand Recording and Corresponding 
Scribe of the Jurisdiction, and the amount accompanying his 
application be returned to him by the R. S., with a notice of his 
rejection. 

Sec. 8. Every applicant elected to membership failing to 
present himself for initiation or admission within six stated meet- 
ings of the Lodge, after being notified of his election (unless 
prevented by sickness or some other unavoidable occurrence), 
shall forfeit the amount that has been paid by him to the Lodge. 
Sec. 9. No degree shall be conferred on a brother who is a 
member of another Lodge, without first obtaining the permission 
of the Lodge to which the brother is attached. 



202 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Sec. io. No degree shall be conferred, under any pretense 
whatever, unless the same shall have been previously paid for. 

ARTICLE VI. 

CARDS. 

Applications for Withdrawal Cards shall be made either per- 
sonally or in writing to a Lodge, and a card thereupon shall be 
granted ; provided the brother be clear of the books, and there 
be no valid objection. No visiting cards shall be permitted in 

the Order. 

ARTICLE VII. 

SEAL. 

Each Lodge shall have a seal, with appropriate devices, which 
shall be affixed to such cards, as well as to all official communi- 
cations emanating from the Lodge. 

ARTICLE VIII. 
DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

The Grand Lodge shall prescribe the duties of officers. 
ARTICLE IX. 
DUES AND BENEFITS. 

Each Subordinate Lodge shall regulate its dues and benefits ; 

provided, however, that a member who is six months in arrears 

shall be suspended. 

ARTICLE X. 

CHARGES, TRIALS, ETC. 

The Grand Lodge shall regulate the mode of charges and 

trials. 

ARTICLE XI * 

REGALIA. 

Section i. The regalia for Subordinate Lodges, if used 
shall be as follows : 



* The Subordinate Lodge Regalia will be a matter of special news 
to the membership of to-day. The Apron " went the way of all the 
earth " at the session of 1872. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 203 

For Pages, a black and white apron made of the best { ' meri- 
no," fifteen inches in length in the middle, and sixteen inches in 
width; lappel to be six inches and a half in length from top to 
end of point, with the letters K. P. embroidered on it in silver; 
on apron, crossed lances embroidered in silver, with the letter 
F. embroidered in blue ; silver fringe around the apron one and 
a half inches in length ; lining to be black muslin ; strings black ; 
lances to be five inches in length. 

For Esquires, the same as Page, with an additional letter C. 
embroidered in gold. 

For Knights, the same as Esquire, with an additional letter B. 
embroidered in red. 

For Officers, the same as Knights, with a rosette of black and 
white ribbon, white on outer edge; also the "insignia" of office 
in center of rosette, made out of white metal and movable. The 
rosette to be worn on lappel of coat on left side. The V. P. , R. 
S. , and B. of Lodge wear the P. C. apron with rosette as above. 

Sec. 2. The working regalia shall be as follows : 

For Pages, a blue collar ; for Esquires, a yellow collar ; for 
Knights, a red collar ; for V. P. , a black velvet collar, with silver 
fringe one and a half inches long, and silver lace border on inner 
edge half inch wide, and an open Bible embroidered in silver 
on the left side ; for W. C, a collar of scarlet velvet, trimmed in 
the same manner as the V. P.'s, with crossed gavels on left side; 
for V. C, the same as the W. C.'s, with single gavel; for R. S., 
the same as the V. C'.s, with crossed pens, omitting the fringe; 
for F. S., the same as the R. S.'s, with pen and key crossed; for 
B., the same as the F. S.'s, with crossed keys; for G., the same 
as the B.'s, with crossed staffs; for I. S., the same as the G.'s, 
with crossed swords; for O. S., the same as the I.S.'s, with single 
sword; for P. C, the same as the W. C.'s, with gold fringe and 
without the gavels. 

This first session of the Supreme Lodge has been given 
greater space in this work than can be accorded to any 
other session in this outline history, but it has been done 
because it was really, and, in fact, the actual starting point 
from which this great Order has developed into its present 



204 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

magnificent proportions. It was in this body that the 
scattered portions of the infant society crystalized into one 
organization, and formed a union that will be perpetuated 
throughout all time. The men who composed it were earn- 
est and conscientious in the work that they had under- 
taken ; and though many of them have ' ' crossed the river 
to rest on the other side," their works and their influence 
live after them ; some who still live have gone away from 
us, others remain, and are full of good works and love for 
the Order. 

In this connection, it is proper to give the history of 
the legal or incorporate life of the Supreme Lodge, and 
the legislation that to-day makes the Supreme Lodge a 
body corporate. 

The Supreme Lodge having, as shown in the foregoing 
pages, secured simply a social organization, with no pro- 
tection of law thrown about it, was left to the mercy of 
the outside world, and it was not long until innovations 
began to be made. The members of the Supreme 
Lodge saw that they must place the infant within the pro- 
tection of the law, and determined to make it a body cor- 
porate; and on the 5 th day of August, 1870, they filed 
with the Recorder of Deeds in the District of Columbia, 
the first Articles of Incorporation, or Association, which 
read as follows : 

CERTIFICATE OF ASSOCIATION OF THE SUPREME 
LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

vVhereas, It is deemed advisable to have the Supreme Lodge 
of Knights of Pythias an incorporated body, under the laws of 
the Congress of the United States, for the more perfect working 
of the beneficent intentions of the said Order ; 

And Whereas, With a view to promote this object, and as 
Grand and Subordinate Lodges of the said Order have been 
formed or organized in various States and Territories, and will 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 205 

be hereafter formed in various other States and Territories of 
the United States, as well as other foreign countries ; 
■ i st. Now, therefore, be it known, That in accordance with 
the act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for the creation 
of corporations in the District of Columbia by general law," ap- 
proved May 5, 1870, the undersigned having associated them- 
selves for the purpose and with the design of establishing^ and 
creating the corporation to be known and named the Supreme 
Lodge Knights of Pythias, do hereby make, and authorize to be 
filed in the office of the Register of Deeds in the District of 
Columbia, this Certificate and these Articles of Association for 
the government of themselves, their associates, assigns and suc- 
cessors. 

2d. And be it further known, That the beneficial associa- 
tion of which this is the certificate, shall be known as the Su- 
preme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, the seal of which has 
been copyrighted by the Supreme Recording and Corresponding 
Scribe in the Clerk's office of the Supreme Court of the District 
of Columbia. 

3d. And be it further known, That Joseph T. K. Plant, 
Past Supreme Chancellor Clarence M. Barton, of the District of 
Columbia; Venerable Supreme Patriarch Wilbur H. Myers, of 
Pennsylvania; Supreme Chancellor Samuel Read, of New Jer- 
sey; Supreme Vice Chancellor C. L. Russell, of Ohio; Su- 
preme Banker W. A. Porter, of Pennsylvania; Supreme Guide 
John F. Comstock, of Connecticut; Supreme Inner Steward H. 
Clay Lloyd, of Kentucky; Supreme Outer Steward George H. 
Crager, of Nebraska; Past Supreme Chancellor Edward Dunn; 
Past Grand Chancellor Harry Kronheimer; J. R. N. Curtin, 
Francis Woods, Hugh G. Divine, Joseph S. Martin, of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, together with all the Past Grand Chancellors 
of each and every State, Territory and Jurisdiction, now organ- 
ized or hereafter to be organized under the authority of the 
Supreme Lodge, shall constitute from and after the filing of this 
Certificate as aforesaid, ' ' The Supreme Lodge of the Knights of 
Pythias of the World." 

4th. And be it further known, That the Board of Trustees 
of said Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias (who shall be 



206 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

elected annually) shall consist of Joseph T. K. Plant, Clarence 
M. Barton, Edward Dunn, Joseph S. Martin, Francis Wood, 
Harry Kronheimer and Hugh Divine, who shall serve until the 
election of their successors at the annual session of the Supreme 
Lodge in April, 187 1, and shall serve without pay. 

5th. And it shall be further known, That no contract for the 
disbursement of the moneys of the said Supreme Lodge shall be 
valid and of effect until ratified by the Board of Finance or 
Financial Committee. 

6th. And be it further known, That the officers of the said 
Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World shall consist of 
Supreme Venerable Patriarch, Supreme Chancellor, Supreme 
Vice Chancellor, Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, 
Supreme Banker, Supreme Guide, Supreme Inner Steward, Su- 
preme Outer Steward, all of whom shall be elected by ballot 
every alternate year, on the first day of the session of said Su- 
preme Lodge, and the said Supreme Recording and Correspond- 
ing Scribe and Supreme Banker shall give such security for the 
faithful performance of their duty as may be ordered by said 
Supreme Lodge. 

7th. And be it further known, That the said Supreme 
Lodge shall hold an annual session for the transaction of all 
business for the benefit and welfare of the Order, and that the 
Supreme Chancellor may, and on the call of fifteen Past Grand 
Chancellors, or Past Supreme Chancellors, convene the Supreme 
Lodge at any time business may demand, and all of said annual 
sessions shall be held in such city or town as the Supreme Lodge 
may determine upon at a regular session ; provided, all special 
or called sessions shall be held in the city of Washington, D. C. 

8th. And be it further known, That a representative from 
a majority of the Grand Lodges working under the jurisdiction 
of this Supreme Lodge shall constitute a quorum for the transac- 
tion of business. 

9th. And be it further known, That the said Supreme 
Lodge shall have power to alter and amend its Constitution and 
By-Laws at will, and that it shall have power to prescribe modes 
of initiation, etc., for the working of said Order, and no Grand 
or Subordinate Lodges, purporting to be Knights of Pythias, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 20? 

shall have legal standing, unless chartered by or through the reg- 
ularly elected officers of this Supreme Lodge in regular or called 
session, or by the Supreme Chancellor during the recess of said 
Supreme Lodge. 

In witness whereof, we the undersigned officers and members 
of the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias of the World have 

hereunto affixed our names and seals day of August, A. D. 

1870 

Jos. T. K. Plant, [SealJ 

Edward Dunn, [Seal] 

Francis Wood, [Seal] 

Jos. S. Martin, [Seal] 

Clarence M. Barton, [Seal] 
H. Kronheimer, [Seal] 

Hugh G. Divine. [Seal] 

District of Columbia, ) gs 

County of Washington, j 
I, R. H. Marsh, a Justice of the Peace in and for said 
County and District, do hereby certify that Jos. T. K. Plant, 
Clarence M. Barton, Edward Dunn, H. Kronheimer, Francis 
Wood, Hugh G. Divine, Jos. S. Martin, personally appeared 
before me in said district and acknowledged the signing of the 
same to be their voluntary act for the purposes therein set forth. 
Witness my hand and seal this 5th day of August, 
[seal] 1870. R. H. Marsh, J. P. 

Endorsements on the filing of the foregoing documents : 

19. 
Incorporation Certificate of the Supreme Lodge of K. of P.'s 
Association, D. C. 

12. 

Received for Record, August 1, 1870, and recorded in 
Liber "Deeds of Incorporation, " folio 75, D. C. , ex'd by 

C. Wolf, Recorder. 

The question of the Incorporation of the Supreme Lodge, 
as set out in the foregoing Articles, was presented to the Su- 
preme Lodge at its session, held at Philadelphia, April, 1870, 



208 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

by Supreme Chancellor Samuel Read. On this subject he 
speaks very plainly, showing the danger that had threat- 
ened the Order. He says : 

" It was deemed prudent and safe to have the Supreme 
Lodge incorporated, to prevent any further trouble in the 
District of Columbia and other jurisdictions. The Su- 
preme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, with other 
suitable brothers, attended to that matter. The Seal also 
of the Supreme Lodge was copyrighted, so as to effectually 
shut off those wicked disorganizes. " 

The parties to whom he here refers were some sus- 
pended members, of whom he says further on : 

" These suspended Knights seem as though they would 
steal ' the livery of Heaven' to serve the devil in. * * 
* * * * * -phe leading spirits formed a bogus body, 
and assumed the name of Grand Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias, D. C, and obtained an Act of Incorporation. 
Characteristic of their zeal in this wicked work, they suc- 
ceeded in carrying on a Grand Lodge, which they adver- 
tised as the Grand Lodge, D. of C. ; and they boast of 
presenting their credentials at this session as the proper 
parties to be admitted, an act that would out-Herod Herod 
himself. In fact, they have declared the seats of the loyal 
Grand Lodge Representatives vacant, and elected others 
to take their place. " 

On the morning of April 20, 1870, the Supreme Lodge 
ratified the acts of the Supreme Chancellor and others, in 
the matter of copyrighting the Seal and incorporating the 
Supreme Lodge. 

These Articles of Incorporation stood as the "Arti- 
cles of Incorporation of the Supreme Lodge Knights 
of Pythias, " until the attention of the Supreme Lodge 
was called to certain very marked defects therein, by 
Supreme Chancellor Berry, in his report to that body at 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 20O, 

its sixth annual session, held at Pittsburgh, Pa., April 
1874. Supreme Chancellor Berry says, that after receiv- 
ing the original copy, and after returning home from the 
session of the Supreme Lodge, at Richmond, in 1873, — 
" securing time to look over the state of affairs as existing, 
in a cool, collected and business-like manner, this ' Act of 
Incorporation' obtruded its illy-advised provisions on me, 
whichever way I would turn, and to quiet the apprehen- 
sions, every day growing stronger, submitted it under a 
lengthened series of interrogations, to an eminent jurist in 
the legal world, as also an old and experienced member 
of a sister secret organization. The result was everything 
but promising or encouraging, as I was informed that in 
everything submitted by me, and outside of our own Con- 
stitution, on matters as between ourselves, I was estopped from 
proceeding legally, or if so doing, giving the officer a clear zvay 
of escape from any future steps that might be ordered by you to 
be taken by my legally elected successor. 

This "Act of Incorporation," and that portion of the 
Supreme Chancellor's report referring thereto, was referred 
to the Committee on Unwritten Work, and went over to 
the next session, 1875, when Supreme Chancellor S. S. 
Davis called the matter up again, and presented recom- 
mendations for amending certain portions of the Articles. 
The matter was then referred to the Committee on Law 
and Supervision. This committee made the following 
report : 

" That in the judgment of your committee, the changes 
in the Act of Incorporation, suggested by the Supreme 
Chancellor, are desirable for the permanent welfare of the 
Order, its status in and with the outer world ; and your 
committee recommend the adoption of the changes sug- 
gested by the Supreme Chancellor, and that for the pur- 
pose of perfecting the form of the 'Act of Incorporation, ' 



2IO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

the same be referred to a special committee of three for 
that purpose. " This report was adopted. 

At the session of the Supreme Lodge, 1876, Supreme 
Chancellor S. S. Davis reports : 

At the close of the session in Washington (1875) I called on 
P. S. C. Jos. T. K. Plant, a Notary Public, and arranged with 
him to prepare the Amendments to the Act of Incorporation, 
and submit them to me, which he did. They were then pre- 
sented to the proper authorities for approval and record, and 
have now become a part of the "Act of Incorporation of the 
Supreme Lodge. " I herewith lay before you a copy of the 
amended Act : 

AMENDED ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE SUPREME 
LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Whereas, On the fifth day of August, A. D. 1870, it was 
deemed necessary to incorporate the Supreme Lodge Knights 
of Pythias of the World, under the act of Congress, approved 
May* 5, A. D. 1870, entitled " An Act to provide for the crea- 
tion of corporations in the District of Columbia by General 
Law ;" and 

Whereas, The body corporate thereby created has powers 
conferred on them by said law to make proper laws to govern 
themselves, and to alter and amend their act or deed of incor- 
poration ; ' it is, therefore, in view of the said law, that the follow- 
ing amendments to said deed of incorporation are acknowledged 
by the proper officers and members, and placed on file in said 
District. And it is hereby agreed and understood, that every- 
thing in these articles different to those in the old articles shall 
be the act of incorporation, jointly with so much of the old act 
as may not be altered by these articles. And with said articles 
of incorporation are hereby amended and altered as follows : 

1 st. To section two (2) add the words " and has also been 
recorded in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, in the Capitol 
of the United States, at Washington, D. C." 

2d. That all of section three (3), in the paper filed August 
5, 1870, is hereby declared void, and the following is inserted 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 211 

in lieu thereof: " The Supreme Lodge shall consist of all Past 
Chancellors, the Supreme Officers and two Representatives from 
each Grand Lodge, under the jurisdiction of said Supreme Lodge, 
until there are 20,000 members under the jurisdiction of a Grand 
Lodge, and one Supreme Representative for each additional 
10,000 members; provided, that no Grand Lodge shall be en- 
titled to more than four (4) Supreme Representatives." 

3d. That section four (4) be altered to read as follows : 
' ' The Board of Trustees shall consist of Supreme Chancellor S. 
S. Davis, of New Hampshire ; Supreme Keeper of Records and 
Seal Joseph Dowdall, of Ohio ; Supreme Master of Exchequer 
John B. Stumph, of Indiana, and Supreme Vice Chancellor D. 
B. Woodruff, of Georgia, who shall serve until the election of 
their successors ; it being understood that the four principal offi- 
cers of the Supreme Lodge shall compose the Board of Trustees." 

4th. That all of section five (5) is hereby annulled. 

5th. That section six (6) shall hereafter be section five (5), 
except the words, ' ' on the first day of the session of said Su- 
preme Lodge." 

6th. That section seven (7) shall hereafter be section six (6), 
and shall read and be as follows : ' ' That the said Supreme Lodge 
shall hold an annual session at such time and place as a majority 
of its members present may determine, for the transaction of 
business, for the benefit and welfare of the Order, and that the 
Supreme Chancellor may, and, on the call of the Supreme Rep- 
resentatives of ten Grand Jurisdictions in writing, shall, convene 
an extra session of said Supreme Lodge, at Washington City, 
D. C." 

7th. And, further, all succeeding sections are hereby altered 
in number to correspond as above, and the names of all Supreme 
Officers are hereby made to agree with the Constitution of the 
Order ; and it is hereby declared that, all and singular, the parts 
of the incorporation of August 5, 1870, not altered by this sup- 
plementary paper, are hereby ratified and reaffirmed, and that 
said Supreme Lodge shall be and remain a body corporate for 
the term of twenty years. And for the purpose of a compliance 
with the act of Congress heretofore cited, we, S. S. Davis, of 
New Hampshire; Joseph Dowdall, of Ohio; John B. Stumph, 



212 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of Indiana, and D. B. Woodruff, of Georgia, officers and trustees 
of said Supreme Lodge ; Past Supreme Chancellor Jos. T. K. 
Plant, of the District of Columbia j Past Supreme Chancellor 
Samuel Read, of New Jersey, and Past Grand Chancellor Fred- 
erick D. Stuart, G. J. L. Foxwell, Richard Goodhart, A. T. 
Cavis and A. J. Gunning, all of the District of Columbia, as in- 
corporators, have hereunto affixed their hands and seal this fifth 
day of October, A. D. 1875. 

S. S. Davis, S. C. [Seal] 

Joseph Dowdall, S. K. R. & S. [Seal] 

John B. Stumph, S. M. of E. [Seal] 

D. B. Woodruff, S. V. C. [Seal] 

Sam'l Read, P. S. C. [Seal] 

Jos. T. K. Plant, P. S. C. [Seal] 

Fred. D. Stuart, P. G. C. [Seal] 

G. J. L. Foxwell, P. G. C. [Seal] 

Richard Goodhart, P. G. C. [Seal] 

A. T. Cavis, P. G. C. [Seal] 

A. J. Gunning, P. G. C. [Seal] 

After presenting the amended Act, S. C. Davis says : 
' ' I trust this amended Act of Incorporation will be referred 
to a competent committee, and that said committee will 
report whether under this act as amended any body of 
men using the name and title of ' Knights of Pythias, ' 
without any prefix whatever to it, not working under au- 
thority of this Supreme Lodge, may not be suppressed 
and enjoined by law from using the same. If it is found 
that full power is not invested in the Supreme Lodge 
under the present amended act, I trust a new, complete 
act will be drawn up and presented at this session, with 
full power to proceed under the law to restrain all per- 
sons not legally entitled to the same from using the name 
and title of ' Knights of Pythias.' " 

On this matter the Committee on Law and Supervision 
made the following report, which was adopted : 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 213 

The course of the Supreme Chancellor in procuring an 
amendment to the "Act of Incorporation," was strictly in ac- 
cordance with the legislation of the Supreme Lodge, and the 
committee offer the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the amended Act of Incorporation be accepted and 
approved. 

(Signed) Jno. P. Linton. 

F. P. Dann. 
Geo. W. Lindsay. 

This amended Act went into full force and effect accord- 
ing to its terms, and so stood until the session of the Su- 
preme Lodge, which met at St. Louis in 1880, when Su- 
preme Chancellor Woodruff called the attention of that 
body to the fact that the change from annual to biennial 
sessions would demand a further amendment of that docu- 
ment, and also to other matters of legal import connected 
therewith, that of themselves would require action on the 
part of the Supreme Lodge m reference to the Act. One 
of the subjects referred to was the fact that since the adop- 
tion of the Act, colored bodies had taken the name, and 
were working and claiming to be Knights of Pythias. An- 
other defect was that the Act of Incorporation was prob- 
ably of no value outside of the District of Columbia, as 
the law on which it was based was enacted for the District 
of Columbia only. He therefore asked that the whole 
matter should be referred to a committee, and that its full 
power be determined. The subject was then referred to a 
Special Committee on the Act of Incorporation, com- 
posed of Supreme Representatives Chas. D. Little, John 
P. Linton, L. B. Allen, and D. J. Lyon. This committee 
made their report, and without giving the entire report, we 
give two sentences which is the conclusion of the whole 
matter : 

"We are, however, of the opinion that it is exceedingly 
proper, if not absolutely necessary, to effect certain amend- 
ments to said Act of Incorporation. We therefore recom- 



214 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

mend that the subject be referred to the Supreme Chancel- 
lor, with instructions to consult counsel learned in the law, 
and with authority to act in accordance with his advice." 
The recommendation and report of the committee was 
adopted. 

At the session of 1882, held in Detroit, Michigan, the 
Supreme Chancellor made the following report on the sub- 
ject, referring to the action above given : 

The Supreme Chancellor was instructed ' ' to consult counsel 
learned in the law, and with authority to act in accordance with 
his advice," relative to an amended Act of Incorporation. In 
conformity with these instructions, I consulted with Hon. Wil- 
liam Pinkney Whyte, Ex-U. S. Senator from Maryland, and 
from him I received the following communication; on receipt 
of which, I requested Mr. Whyte to prepare an amended Act of 
Incorporation of the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the 
World, which was done, and forms part of this report. 

"Baltimore, October 28, 1881. 
My Dear Sir : — In answer to your inquiries, I beg to give 
you the following opinion upon the questions submitted by you : 

1. You ask whether the change in the sessions of the Su- 
preme Lodge from annual to biennial sessions has abrogated 
your Act of Incorporation ? 

I reply, that in my opinion it does not. The fact, how- 
ever, could only be tested, and the question raised, by the 
Courts of the United States, in proceedings undertaken to vacate 
the charter. It could not be taken advantage of collaterally. 

2. You ask whether it is necessary to obtain an amended 
Act of Incorporation, for the purpose of including the changes 
in its Constitution ? 

I am of the opinion that it does require such act. Al- 
though the Act of Congress does not, in plain terms, require such 
amendments to be made and recorded, yet it is very evident, by 
the terms of similar acts elsewhere, and the prevailing practice, 
that such is the requirement of the spirit of the law. I have no 
doubt whatever of the necessity of such action. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 215 

3. You ask me if the act of Congress, approved May 5, 
A. D. 1870, providing for the creation of corporations by general 
law, is limited in its application to the District of Columbia ? 

I answer that it is, and that such a corporation so created 
has only existence within the territory of the District of Columbia, 
precisely as a corporation created by a general law of a state is 
confined to the limits of that state, and only has recognition else- 
where by the comity existing between the states. 

The law for the creation of corporations above referred to 
does not relate to the United States, but by its very title and 
terms is confined to the District of Columbia. I have thus an- 
swered all your inquiries. Yours truly, 

Wm. Pinkney Whyte. 
Hon. Geo. W. Lindsay, Supreme Chancellor, etc. 

In conformity with the instructions of the Supreme 
Lodge the Supreme Chancellor had had prepared and 
executed the following: 

AMENDED act of incorporation of the supreme 

LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Whereas, By virtue of the provisions of the Act of Congress, 
approved May 5, A. D. 1870, entitled "An Act to provide for 
the creation of corporations in the District of Columbia, by gen- 
eral law," the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World 
was duly incorporated on the 5th day of August, A. D. 1870, 
by compliance with the terms of the said Act of Congress, and the 
certificate of incorporation was, on the 5th day of August, A. D. 
1870, duly filed and recorded among the Deeds of Incorpora- 
tion, Folio 75, in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in the Dis»- 
trict of Columbia ; and 

Whereas, In pursuance of the power and authority in said 
corporation lodged afterwards on the 5th day of October, A. D. 
1875, certain articles of the said Act of Incorporation were 
amended, and the unchanged articles ratified and confirmed, and 
proper articles of amendment duly executed in conformity with 
the requirements of the law aforesaid, and recorded, or filed for 
record, in the office of the Recorder of Deeds aforesaid, on the 
said 5th day of October, 1875 > an d 



2l6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Whereas, It is deemed expedient that the following addi- 
tional amendments to the said Deed of Incorporation should be 
made, and to that end, the same are now executed and acknowl- 
edged by the proper officers and members, and placed on file for 
record. And it is hereby agreed, and understood, that every 
clause and provision in these articles as amended, in conflict with 
the original or amended Act of Incorporation, shall be the act of 
incorporation jointly, with every clause in the old act or the 
amended act not altered by these articles. 

Now, therefore, the Articles of Incorporation are hereby 
amended and altered as follows, viz. : 

6. Section six is hereby amended, and shall read and be as 
follows, viz. : 

" That sessions of the Supreme Lodge shall be held at such 
times, and in such places, as the Supreme Lodge may, in ac- 
cordance with the Constitution and Laws, determine, for the 
transaction of all business for the benefit and welfare of the Order, 
and the Supreme Chancellor shall convene extra sessions of the 
Supreme Lodge, in the manner prescribed in the Constitution of 
the said Supreme Lodge." 

That the following additional section, to be known as section 
9, be added to the Act of Incorporation, as amended, viz. : 

"9. That the said Supreme Lodge shall have power to es- 
tablish the Uniform Rank and the Endowment Rank, upon such 
terms and conditions, and governed by such rules and regula- 
tions, as to the said Supreme Lodge may seem proper." 

And it is hereby declared, that, all and singular, the parts of 
the Act of Incorporation of August 5, 1870, not altered by the 
supplementary paper of the 5th of October, A.D. 1870, and all the 
parts of the said last mentioned paper, so far as neither of the 
said original or supplementary acts is changed by this paper, are 
hereby ratified and reaffirmed, and the said Supreme Lodge shall ' 
be and remain a body corporate for the term of twenty years. 

And for the purpose of a compliance with the terms of the 
Act of Congress heretofore cited, we, George W. Lindsay, of 
Maryland; Joseph Dowdall, of Ohio; John B. Stumph, of Indi- 
ana, and John P. Linton, of Pennsylvania, officers and trustees 
of the said Supreme Lodge ; Past Supreme Chancellor D. B. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 2iy 

Woodruff, of Georgia ; Past Supreme Chancellor Samuel Read, 
of New Jersey; Past Grand Chancellor G. J. L. Foxwell, of the 
District of Columbia ; A. J. Gunning, John W. Thompson, Jo- 
seph T. Coldwell and Justus H. Rathbone, all of the District of 
Columbia, as incorporators, have hereunto affixed our hands and 
seals, this 24th day of May, A. D. 1882. 

Geo. W. Lindsay, [Seal] 

Jno. P. Linton, [Seal] 

Jno. B. Stumph, [Seal] 

Joseph Dowdall, [Seal] 

D. B. Woodruff, [Seal] 

Samuel Read, [Seal] 

G. J. L. Foxwell, [Seal] 

A. J. Gunning, [Seal] 

Jno. W. Thompson, [Seal] 

Jos. T. Coldwell, [Seal] 

J. H. Rathbone. [Seal] 

A copy of the above amended Act was sent by mail to 
the incorporators therein mentioned for acknowledgment, 
which having been properly done in accordance with law, 
the amended Act was duly recorded in the Clerk's office of 
the District of Columbia. 

The amended Act of Incorporation was adopted by 
the Supreme Lodge August 25, 1882, and now forms the 
basis for the legal life of ' ' The Supreme Lodge Knights 
of Pythias of the World. " 



218 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Principles on which the Order is Founded — Construction — Semi- 
Military, Patterned after the Ancient Chivalry — Ranks — Page — 
Esquire — Knight — Declaration of Principles— Triplicates — Friend- 
ship — Charity — Benevolence — Expenditures for Relief — Caution 
— Bravery — Examples of, Hines, Reynolds, Wood, Early, Dickin- 
son and Woodland — the Heroes of the Indian Territory. 



HAVE traced the Order of Knights 
of Pythias from its origin and the 
founding of the first Subordinate 
Lodge, from that to the first Grand 
Lodge, thence into the establishing 
of the Supreme Lodge, which was 
to be for all time to come the foun- 
tain-head of all law for the govern- 
ment and control of the entire body. 
Let us now, before proceeding further, ascertain the funda- 
mental principles on which it was founded, and on what it 
now rests. 

The Founder, and the men who first united with him in 
the work of establishing this fraternity, proposed to place 
it on a semi-military basis, patterned in a certain degree 
after the knighthood and military organizations of the age 
of chivalry. True, indeed, they purposed to have it founded 
on an heroic idea of friendship and loyalty to the persons 
who should enter within the sacred precincts of the Pythian 
Castle, and take upon themselves the knightly vows that 
were there to be administered. It was intended that these 
vows should be observed with all the rigid faithfulness and 




HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 21 9 

heroic firmness that characterized the storied bravery and 
loyalty of the olden knighthood. In their first teachings 
of the tenets and doctrines of this modern American Pythi- 
anism, the newly made Knights were fully instructed and 
cautioned that the friendship taught was to be a friendship 
unto death for a brother, that is to say, that would suffer 
death rather than prove false to the vows that were taken 
in this regard. This knighthood was to be based on the 
same plan as that of the knighthood of old, by establishing 
three ranks or grades, as was done when men were bred to 
arms in the days ' 4 lang syne. " The common society term 
or name of degrees was dropped, and the term "ranks" 
was adopted in their stead, and this is kept up throughout 
the Subordinate, Grand, and Supreme Lodge, and into 
each branch of the membership, including the Endowment 
and Uniform Rank. The question is often asked by the 
uninitiated and uninformed, if the "Knights of Pythias" 
is not a branch or offshoot from Masonry or Odd Fellow- 
ship. To this question we can answer most emphatically, 
no. We are established on a different basis, even disre- 
garding the terms and designations used by those two 
bodies. The fundamental principles of those two societies, 
as of all fraternal and benevolent organizations, are the 
same, that of friendship and charity ; and while these are 
two of the cardinal principles of the Knights of Pythias, 
here they are applied on a different basis. The Ranks of 
the Subordinate Lodge are those of the Page, Esquire and 
Knight. These were to represent, first, the youth who 
was first placed in tutorage under the rules that governed 
society in the days of chivalry. The child who was in- 
tended for knighthood was taken at the age of seven and 
placed in charge of a governor or teacher, and was prepared 
by a vigorous and robust education for the labors, duties, 
and hardships of war. His first duties were those of a 
domestic ; he served in the house, he followed as a servant 



220 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

in the chase, these for the development of his physical 
powers. Hours of study were strictly observed, wherein 
he was taught all that was then known of letters and 
science. He was also taught the higher lessons of love to 
God, and an attachment to, and a regard for his friends. 
His religious instruction was in no case to be neglected, 
for it must be borne in mind that all of the early knight- 
hood came after the beginning of the Christian era, and 
has ever been a professedly Christian institution. Their 
instructions in respect to chastity and virtuous habits were 
of the highest and strictest sort; their manners and their 
conversation was to be of the most dignified order, all of 
this teaching being intended to fit them in body and mind 
for the most noble and true knighthood. 

The second rank, that of Esquire, came next, when, 
having been trained or fitted by age and education, they 
began to receive active instruction in the use of arms. The 
duties of the Esquire were varied. Having been invested 
with his sword, for a time thereafter he guarded the treas- 
ures of his lord or master. He took charge of the armor 
and weapons of his chief, exercising the greatest care to 
have them in proper condition. The greatest honor, or 
the most honorable position, after his caution and care had 
been fully tested in the duties just mentioned, came when 
he was made an Esquire of Honor, or Body Squire, and was 
permitted to accompany his master and carry his standard 
or bear his shield or helmet, or carry his sword. In the 
midst of the combat he was to be ever near and lend any 
assistance in his power, carefully guarding his master's in- 
terests, but not permitted to strike a blow, though ever 
cautious and watchful that no undue advantage should be 
gained by the adversary. Lastly, having passed through 
the tests of faithfulness, fidelity and friendship in the 
family, having proved his steadfast devotion on the field, 
and shown his love for his master in the face of the foe, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 221 

the days of childhood and youth or nonage having passed, 
and his majority having been attained, then came the final 
tests in his attempt to reach the crowning honors of knight- 
hood. This last summit of his ambition was only to be 
gained through the most severe tests of bravery or cour- 
age. In addition to this, carrying out the religious prin- 
ciples on which the knighthood was founded, religious rites 
and ceremonies must be performed for and by the aspirant. 
Enforced fasts, long-continued periods of prayer, the par- 
taking of the sacrament and confession, bathings, which 
symbolized cleansing from lust and indicated purity of life 
and manners, all these must be strictly observed. These 
items mentioned were only a portion of the work of prep- 
aration through which the Esquire must pass before he 
could receive the honors and title of Knight. Finally, 
his bravery having been put to the test, an obligation or 
oath was administered to him by the Bishop or Chief Pre- 
late, the following being one of the forms — as reported by 
Sir William Segar : 

"Sir, you that desire td receive the honor of Knight- 
hood swear before God and this holy book that you will 
not fight against his Majesty, that now bestoweth the 
Order of Knighthood upon you. You shall also swear to 
maintain and defend all ladies, gentlemen, widows and 
orphans ; and you shall shun no adventure of your person 
in any war wherein you shall happen to be." 

It is not deemed necessary to go further into the 
system of Chivalric Ranks in this chapter, this being suf- 
ficient to show the theoretical principles on which our 
Order has been founded, and enough to furnish food for 
thought and speculation on the part of those who have 
reached the summit of Pythian Knighthood. Further 
treatment of the question will be reserved for the chapter 
devoted to the Uniform Rank. We now proceed to the 



222 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

principles and mottoes of the Order, because these briefly 
but conclusively proclaim its objects. 

The ninth annual Supreme Lodge in session at the 
city of Cleveland, Ohio, August, 1877, adopted the fol- 
lowing : 

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES OF THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Recognizing the universality of human brotherhood, its 
organization is designed to embrace the world within its jurisdic- 
tion — intended solely and only to disseminate the great princi- 
ples of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence, nothing of a sec- 
tarian or political character is permitted within its portals. Tol- 
eration in religion, obedience to law, and loyalty to government, 
are its cardinal principles. Misfortune, misery and death being 
written in fearful characters on the broad face of creation, our 
noble Order was instituted to uplift the fallen; to champion hu- 
manity ; to be his guide and hope ; his refuge, shelter and de- 
fense; to soften down the asperities of life; to subdue party 
spirit ; and by the sweet and powerful attractions of the glorious 
trinity of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence, to bind in one 
harmonious brotherhood men of all classes and all opinions. 

The brightest jewels which it garners are the tears of widows 
and orphans ; and its imperative commands are to visit the homes 
where lacerated hearts are bleeding; to assuage the sufferings of 
a brother ; bury the dead ; care for the widow and educate the 
orphan ; to exercise charity towards offenders ; to construe words 
and deeds in their least unfavorable light — granting honesty of 
purpose and good intentions to others ; and to protect the Prin- 
ciples of Knighthood unto death. 

Its laws are reason and equity ; its cardinal doctrines inspire 
purity of thought and life and love of truth, and loyalty to the 
Government under which we live ; its intention is peace on earth, 
and good will toward man. 

It is on the foregoing platform that the Order now rests, 
and by these principles it will stand or fall. 

Running throughout this Order we find all its forms, 
all its divisions or parts, and its mottoes, grouped together 
in triplicates. Three ranks, three mottoes, three signs, 
the triple obligations, three bodies — the Subordinate, the 
Grand and the Supreme Lodges — the tri-colored banner, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 223 

and the triangle, form the mystic body into which we 
have been led. This number, in all ages and among all 
races of men, has been held in peculiar veneration. In 
the philosophy of the ancients the number three was used 
as the symbol of the Supreme Being, He being the begin- 
ning, the middle and the end of all that was holy, pure 
and true. So also man's duties were three, and consisted 
of the obligations he owed to his Maker, God, to himself, 
which also included his family, and his neighbor. The 
tests of loyalty were also three, loyalty to God, to country 
and tribe. So, following the ancient test, modern Pyth- 
ianism requires of its votaries the same duties, and the 
same principles of loyalty, to God, and country, and fam- 
ily, or fraters, and seeks to impress these doctrines by 
symbols, by precepts, and by examples, on the mind and 
heart of every one who passes within our portals, and 
stands beside our altars, whether as Page, Esquire, or 
Knight, and to teach them so plainly and forcibly that 
the lessons cannot be treated lightly or cast aside for any 
whim or caprice by those who have received its lessons. 
The first lesson is that of 

FRIENDSHIP, 

That divine principle taught by Deity to man, which may 
be fitly represented by the blue field in our banner, em- 
blematic of the azure arch of heaven and its purity, from 
whence we have received the highest lessons of Friend- 
ship, that bind us together in the golden bands of broth- 
erly love. 

By the cultivation of this principle, the very first that 
is taught upon entering the Pythian Castle, and is carried 
through all the ranks, we are led into a higher life, devel- 
oping the finer faculties of the soul, purifying our natures, 
bringing them into greater harmony with all that is good, 



224 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

for true friendship is goodness, and in all the varied rela- 
tions of our existence, both to God, our Father, and man, 
our brother, are we made better men, better citizens and 
better Knights ; and just in proportion as this spirit of 
friendship is reached by mankind, is the pathway through 
life made brighter, humanity made happier, and the world 
made better thereby. 

The friendship taught by our Order is not the friend- 
ship found only in the noonday of prosperity, when your 
brother is in the meridian light and blaze of success; when 
wealth is flowing into his coffers, and honors are crowding 
thick and fast upon him, or when all the world is paying 
court to his intellect and genius. It is not that friendship, 
misnamed, that seeks companionship for the good that 
may come to the seeker, in honors, position or wealth. 

It is that true type of friendship that can take a brother 
man by the hand as he starts forth in the early dawn of 
life's struggles ; that helps him through the valley of dark- 
ness, and over the rough and stony places of the rugged 
road ; that shields from the scorching rays of the midday 
sun. It must be a steadfast friendship through the storms 
of adversity, and across and beyond the burning sands 
of disappointment and failures that come on the way ; that 
will stand steadfastly by the hard-pressed and weary one, 
to cheer, encourage, assist, and carry, if need be, until all 
these trials are over and passed, and the high and fertile 
table-lands are reached ; and though footsore, weary and 
aching, mayhap, from the struggle so bravely endured, 
the brother can stand in the full noonday of victories 
gained and hopes fully realized. 

It is that friendship that will take the brother man by 
the hand when the light begins to wane, and the fickle god- 
dess of fortune has ceased to smile, and then in his hour 
of sorest need gives substantial aid and encouragement. 

It is that friendship, that when dark forebodings come 
creeping into the soul, driving the light from the eye, and 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 225 

the smile from the face ; when the head is bowed down, 
and the spirit is broken with the heavy weight of adver- 
sity, and man and angels, yea, and God himself, seems to 
have turned away and hid his face from the poor mortal, 
that can even then throw about the broken body and faint- 
ing soul the arms of love and sympathy, and lift him up, 
and speak words of comfort and cheer that shall cause him 
to look up and take heart again, and once more stand up- 
right as a man among men. 

This friendship has its own reward in a fullness of joy 
that only those can know who have carried it into every- 
day life, and solved the problem of genuine friendship in 
practical works of good for men. 

The lessons of friendship taught by the Knights of 
Pythias do not end in words. The membership of the 
Order teaches and practices, in a substantial manner, care 
for the destitute, relief for the sick, and real aid for the 
widow and orphan. Words and expressions of sympathy go 
for naught, unless they are accompanied with acts and 
gifts that feed and clothe and educate and relieve from 
suffering and want. 

The Knights of Pythias may well point with pride, yet 
not with boasting, to the record made by the Order in 
practical friendship. 

The report of the Grand Lodges for the year ending 
December 31, 1886, the last made, shows that in that year 
there was expended by the Subordinate Lodges, for the 
relief of the sick, for the burial of the dead, for the sup- 
port of the widows and the education of orphans, the sum 
of $527,963.00; and that since the existence of the Su- 
preme Lodge, to that date, December, 1886, there have 
been expended for the purposes named $5,427,478. To 
this amount should also be added the further sum of 
$4,000,000, paid through the Endowment Rank, and the 
estimated amount expended for relief and burial of the 



226 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

dead, for the year 1887, $600,000 — and it will probably 
exceed that amount — and we have the immense sum of 
$10,027,478, expended in nineteen years by this Order. 

This great sum of money came not from the pockets of 
the rich, but from men of moderate means — young men 
just starting in life, in the professions, in the trades, in 
mechanics, on the farms, in the mines ; for our member- 
ship, for the most part, is made up of the above-named 
classes. 

Thus has the order exemplified its doctrines of Friend- 
ship and Benevolence. This large sum of money has 
been given, too, with open, generous hand, and genuine 
sympathy. The giving and the gifts have carried with 
them the full meaning of one of our mottoes, Benevolence 
— " good wishing " to those who receive ; good will, kind- 
ness, a love of mankind, with an earnest desire to promote 
happiness. 

Whether the brother Knight be high or low in the 
social scale, rich or poor, all share alike in the gifts of the 
Order ; and no one can feel that he is an object of charity, 
in the common meaning of that word. In these gifts, 
both he that gives and he that receives is blessed. 

On an old Egyptian monument is this inscription : 
' * Through my love, I have drawn near to God ; I have 
given bread to him who was hungry ; water to him who 
was athirst ; garments to him who was naked, and a place 
of shelter to the abandoned. " The benevolence portrayed 
in this inscription embraces all the virtues of that higher 
and greatest command given to mankind, ' ' Thou shalt love 
thy neighbor as thyself," and is the noblest and most God- 
like feeling that can be implanted in mankind. 

Says Jeremy Taylor, " God is pleased with no music 
below so much as the thanksgiving songs of relieved wid- 
ows, of supported orphans, of rejoicing and comforted and 
thankful persons. This part of our communication does 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 22f 

the work of God and our neighbors, and bears us to heaven 
in streams made by the overflowing of our brother's 
comfort." 

The benevolence taught by our Order is that higher 
aspiration of the soul that draws us nearer to God in the 
great bonds of sympathy and well-wishing that unite the 
Great Creator to all humanity. It is the well-spring of 
love flowing from a warm and tender heart, watering the 
seeds of friendship and charity, causing them to grow into 
realities ; that with open hand gives bread and strength to 
the hungry and perishing ; pours in the waters of comfort 
and consolation to the hearts of those who thirst for sym- 
pathy ; that silences high-sounding words and prayers by 
quiet acts, clothing the naked and giving shelter to the 
abandoned. 

It is the unobtrusive love coming from a pure and lofty 
spirit that can, with a hand as gentle as a woman's, and a 
sympathy that is genuine, care for and comfort the sick, 
or perform the last sad rites at the grave of a brother, and 
while we lay his body in the tomb can cherish the recol- 
lection of his virtues, and draw the mantle of charity over 
his faults. A benevolence that comforts by material aid 
and sympathy the sorrows of the widow and educates the 
orphan. 

We strive in this benevolence to practically test the 
truth of the Scripture, that " It is more blessed to give 
than to receive ;" and we gladly extend the right hand of 
fellowship to all who love humanity, and are honestly 
striving to lighten the burdens of a sin-cursed world. 

In writing of the tenets of the Knights of Pythias, we 
have, in the main, treated of the three fundamental princi- 
ples of the Order as one cardinal virtue, because the true 
interpretation of the three in their practical bearings are 
so closely allied, and, in reality, blend one into the other. 
A friendship that does not carry with it charity — which 



228 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

in its highest and best meaning is defined as love — has no 
element of friendship in it, and a friendship — love — that 
does not produce a genuine benevolence as the fruit of 
the union, is a misnomer and a parody on the true im- 
port of those divine attributes. So, turn which way you 
will, Pythian friendship is love for a brother man, coupled 
with genuine benevolence, well-wishing, that reaches out 
to do that brother the greatest and highest possible good, 
be it in cheering words, in smiles of encouragement, in 
well-doing and noble strivings, in relieving him in want, 
distress or sickness, in burying the dead, in caring for the 
widow or educating the orphan. There is one characteris- 
tic, however, of this Pythian charity which we wish espe- 
cially to emphasize, for the reason that it has not been 
brought out heretofore with the force that it should have 
had. We refer to that charity or kindness that should be 
shown to the weakness of human nature. Mankind have 
been in all ages too prone to criticise their fellows for any 
lack of morality or virtue, and, instead of coming to the 
rescue of one who was weak, have condemned in harsh and 
unmeasured terms, thus destroying all impulse that would 
lead to a higher and better life. A profession of charity 
that only shows on the surface, while at heart it is more 
ready to hear ill spoken of one than good, is a lie and a 
cheat. The charity intended to be taught by the Knights 
of Pythias is such an earnest and abiding regard for the 
welfare of a brother that will silence evil reports of him 
instead of enlarging or repeating them from mouth to 
mouth, to be magnified as the slander or evil report circu- 
lates. Homes have been ruined, hopes blasted and hearts 
broken, because some noble, charitable soul has not been 
found to step in and stem the tide of evil and false rumor 
that has so often been started in motion by some evil dis- 
posed and venomous heart and tongue. Men are too apt 
to misjudge the words and acts of their fellows. Brethren 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 22Q. 

of this knightly Order should on this topic remember the 
words of our declaration of principles: "To exercise 
charity towards offenders ; to construe words and deeds in 
their least unfavorable light, granting honesty of purpose and 
good intentions to others." 

This is the particular phase of charity that we wish to 
bring out fully, and with all the strength and force that it is 
possible to express. Would you be your brother's mur- 
derer ? Would you take your brother's life ? ' ' No ! no ! " 
every one exclaims. Yet the Knight of Pythias who for- 
gets the passage just above quoted, and adopts any other 
course in the treatment of a brother Knight, is worse 
than a murderer. Rob a man of his good name, blacken 
his character, prefer a false accusation against him which 
brings about his ruin socially, or his reputation as an 
honest man, and you have done worse a thousand-fold than 
if you had sent a bullet through his heart. The Knight of 
Pythias who would do this is not only more guilty than a 
murderer, but he is also a perjurer, and a blasphemer, for he 
wilfully violates a solemn obligation in the taking of which 
he called upon Almighty God to witness the sincerity of 
his vow. Some have said that this principle does not ap- 
ply during the heated political campaigns of this country ; 
that the utterance of a lie, and the publishing of a false- 
hood that will blacken a man's character, are not to be taken 
into account. The man who claims such as the doctrine 
of this Order is not only unworthy to be called a Knight, 
but is unworthy the name of man. The charity intended 
to be taught by our Order is that loving, kindly disposi- 
sition of the heart which tends to make us, one and all, 
think favorably of our fellow men, and especially of our 
fellow Knights, coupled with an earnest desire to do them 
good. If we would truly keep our vows in letter and 
spirit we must have a broad liberality in judging of our 
brethren and their actions. Instead of being fault-finders, 



230 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

and suspicious, we must have a generous manhood and 
knighthood that will put the very best construction on the 
words and actions of our fellows. 

Our charity means faith in a brother, confidence in him 
as a man, an implicit trust and hope in and for him. This 
is the true charity we would teach: "And though I be- 
stow all my goods to feed the poor, .... and have 
not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth 
long, and is kind ; charity envieth not ; . . . . seeketh 
not her own ; is not easily provoked ; thinketh no evil ; . 

. and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, 
but the greatest of these is charity." 

That these objects and purposes of our Order may best 
be served, we teach caution in our individual lives, that we 
may not violate the reputable rules of society ; caution in 
our association with our fellow men, that we may not need- 
lessly bring pain to the heart of any, not even to the low- 
liest of God's creatures; caution and watchfulness, that we 
live uprightly before God, that at last we may receive His 
approval. 

Another of the tenets of the Order is bravery. This 
attribute is defined as courage, gallantry, fearlessness of 
danger, undaunted spirit, intrepidity, and when applied to 
man, refers to one who can and does meet dangers with 
courage and fortitude. There is a physical bravery and 
also a moral bravery ; the lessons taught and the examples 
given as a guide for life include both of these types of 
bravery. The man who lacks either of these knightly 
virtues is termed a coward. The highest type of bravery 
is found in that true nobility of soul that hates and 
despises any and all hypocrisy and deceit, and will prove 
faithful to the professions of friendship, even though dan- 
ger, and death itself, be met in the discharge of the duties 
we owe to our fellow man. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 23 1 

This spirit of bravery and friendship combined was 
exemplified over twenty centuries ago in the hearts and 
lives of two of earth's noblest sons, in the city of Syra- 
cuse. Long, weary years in advance of Him who spake 
as never man spake, when he uttered that great and 
sublime truth, "Greater love hath no man than this, that 
a man lay down his life for his friend;" in an age of vio- 
lence, rapine, plunder, licentiousness, and superstition, 
when might made right ; and where the will of the tyrant 
Dionysius was the supreme law, our prototype, leaving his 
betrothed at the altar, with unwavering faith in the honor 
of his friend, made his appeal to the tyrant : 

' ' Behold me, Dionysius, at thy feet ! 

As thou dost love thy wife, and thy sweet children ; 

As thou'rt a husband and a father, hear me ! 

Let Damon go and see his wife and child 

Before he dies — for four hours respite him — 

Put me in chains ; plunge me into his dungeon, 

As pledge for his return ; do this — but this — 

And may the gods themselves build up thy greatness 

As high as their own heaven." 

Yet more : When the fatal moment had arrived, and 
Pythias was led forth to suffer death for Damon, in full 
view of the instrument of death, with no faltering in his 
trust, and without a murmur, with voice clear and unbro- 
ken, and cheek unblanched, he exclaimed : 

" 'Tis sweet to die for those we love." 

This, to that age, was a new revelation of character. 
To see the evidences of a steadfast friendship, brave and 
true, even in the face of death itself, could scarcely be 
believed. This thrilling historical incident, shining like a 
clear light into the moral darkness that surrounded it, 
"the world will not willingly let die." This grand exem- 
plification of bravery for a friend, pure and disinterested in 
all its acts, now, after more than two thousand years have 



232 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

come and gone, has been made the corner-stone of a soci- 
ety which now ranks third in strength among the great 
charitable Orders of the world. While we would not over- 
look the heroic acts of friendship in the world's great his- 
tory, under our own flag, and within the memory of the 
world's present actors, we cherish the sacred memory of 
many examples of courage, moral heroism and true 
Pythian friendship, as brilliant and enchanting as any that 
have ever been written in the records of the past. 

The Knights of Pythias will ever hold in remembrance 
the heroic death of Samuel Holder Hines, whose spirit 
went out amid the charred and blackened ruins of the 
Spottswood hotel, in Richmond, Va., on the morning of 
December 25, 1870, in the vain and fruitless attempt to 
save the life of a brother Knight. His was the first sacri- 
fice in obedience to the principles of the Order. The 
Supreme Lodge, at its session of 1871, passed the fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL HOLDER HINES. 

To the Officers and Members of the Supreme Lodge, K. of P. 

We, the undersigned committee, appointed for the purpose 
of drafting resolutions expressive of the feelings of this body at 
the death of Samuel Holder Hines, of Old Dominion Lodge, 
No. 4, Richmond, Va. , respectfully beg leave to offer the fol- 
lowing preamble and resolutions, viz. : 

Whereas, The Supreme Lodge of the World K. of P., has heard 
with sorrow of the sad death of Samuel Holder Hines, who sacrificed 
his life in an attempt to save that of a brother Knight, at the burning of 
the Spottswood hotel, Richmond, Va., on the 25th of December, 1870; 
and 

Whereas, Such an act of self-sacrificing devotion to, and so noble 
an appreciation of, the principles arid obligations of our Order should 
ever remain fresh in the memory of all brother Knights ; therefore be it 

Resolved, That the Supreme Lodge of the World tender their heart- 
felt sympathy to Old Dominion Lodge, No. 4, of Richmond, Va., in this 
their deep loss and sore affliction. 

Resolved, That the sublime example of bravery and unfaltering devo- 
tion exhibited by the heroic act of Samuel Holder Hines was such as to 
render it meet that his name and memory should ever be revered and 
held sacred by all Knights of Pythias. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 233 

Resolved, That this preamble and these resolutions be spread upon a 
memorial page of the Journal of this body. 

In 1878 the hearts of the people of our great Nation 
were touched by the cry of distress and death that came 
up from the South, and earnest measures of relief were in- 
augurated for that stricken people. The terrible epidemic 
of yellow fever had come upon them ; the extremity of 
human misery was illustrated with grim and ghastly effect ; 
all business was stifled in the infected districts, and all 
industries were paralyzed ; the people were panic-stricken 
by the sights which met their gaze on every hand ; the 
bodies of those who had fallen by the scourge were borne 
to their hastily-prepared graves in almost continuous and 
unbroken lines ; husband and wife, parent and child, rose 
in the morning, and before nightfall the grim messenger 
had entered the home and destroyed it forever. Of all the 
cities visited by the plague, none suffered so severely as 
Memphis, Tenn. This was the home of the then Grand 
Chancellor of Tennessee, Henry S. Reynolds, and among 
all the men who strove, by their presence and unceas- 
ing efforts, to alleviate the sufferings of that stricken peo- 
ple, no one was more active than he. He was a member 
of the Pythian Committee of Relief, and as such he was 
constant, faithful, fearless and untiring in ministering to 
the wants of his brethren. Many had fled from the doomed 
city. His friends urged him to go, and thereby save his 
life ; but in response to these entreaties, in one of his last 
letters, he said : "So long as one member of the Order 
remains in Memphis, I deem it my duty to remain ; and 
should I fall, I will fall at my post of duty." In fulfillment 
of that duty, as he saw it, he remained until he fell a vic- 
tim to the scourge, and died September 18, 1878. 

Associated with Grand Chancellor Reynolds in the 
work of those fearful days, was Past Chancellor J. Wood, 
of Memphis Lodge, No. 6. He, too, fell a victim to the 
destroyer, while in the fearless discharge of his duties. 



234 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

These men lived in Memphis. Their homes were there, 
and some might say they remained for that reason. Not 
so. Their neighbors were gone ; the men whom they 
met in business in days of health and prosperity had de- 
serted their homes, their business, everything, and fled. 
The promptings of self-preservation would have led them 
away, their lives might have been spared, and no man 
could have said aught against them. But no ; they obeyed 
the call of duty as they heard it, and ' ' faithful even unto 
death " shall be the verdict of all who know their history. 

Others there were of the brethren outside of the city 
of Memphis, and out of reach of the dread destroyer, who 
heard the voice of duty, and, hearing, obeyed the call, 
voluntarily encountering the danger. What shall be said 
of them ? The man who is found in the midst of the bat- 
tle, because that is his place, and his comrades are there, 
deserves well if he meets the foe face to face, and by such 
courage truly earns the name of "brave man." He 
engages with an open foe, and gives equal battle. But 
what measure of praise shall be given to him who, being 
out of the conflict, and commanded not to go, but to 
stay, yet hearing the sound of battle, and learning that 
his countrymen and brethren are sore pressed, and in need 
of aid, flies to their succor, and falls in their defense. 
What shall be said of him ? That he was a brave man and 
soldier ? Nay, more, infinitely more ; he was a hero, a 
patriot, a philanthropist. 

The adversary to be met at Memphis, in 1878, was not 
an open foe, who gave even battle, but an enemy that slew 
his victims unawares, covertly, against whom no one could 
hope to fight on even grounds. It was a battle, however, 
that some must wage, and he who from a place of safety 
entered the fight, was the highest type of hero. Of this 
class of men, Damon Lodge, No. 3, of Little Rock, Ark., 
furnished two. Edward T. Easley, a young and prominent 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 235 

physician, decided to go to the aid of the stricken breth- 
ren. When this came to the knowledge of Knight James 
W. Dickinson, a former member of a Wisconsin Lodge, 
then residing in Little Rock, Ark., and a member of Da- 
mon Lodge, where he had deposited his card, he said : 
' ' Bro. Easley must not go alone ; if he should be attacked 
with the yellow fever, who will care for him ? I will go 
to aid him, if need be." The two went, and there died 
in the discharge of their self-imposed duty. The following 
is the record by their Lodge of their devotion. 

Castle Hall, Damon Lodge, No. 3, K. of P., 

Little Rock, Ark., October 3d, 1878. 
At a regular meeting of Damon Lodge, No. 3, K. of P., 
convened at the Castle Hall this Thursday evening, October 3d, 
1878, by order of the Chancellor Commander, the K. of R. & S. 
read dispatches from the chairman of the Knights of Pythias 
Relief Committee, of Memphis, Tenn., announcing that two of 
the members of this Lodge, who went at the call of our brothers 
in distress to succor the sick and the dying of fever stricken, at 
Memphis, are no more. Upon the announcement it was 

Resolved, That the Lodge cease for a time all its labors for the living, 
to record its Death Roll of Knightly Martyrs, who fell at the post of 
duty, while practically exemplifying the principles and teachings of our 
Order. Deep feeling heaves in the breast and gathers in the eye. If it 
were possible we would command a halt of Time himself, to pay a fitting 
tribute to our departed brothers. When in the course of human events 
noble lives are offered up as a self-sacrifice upon the altar of humanity, 
words are inadequate to express the grandeur of the act. 

Therefore, we, brothers of the Knightly dead, Edward T. Easley 
and James W. Dickinson, breathe our sorrows to the winds that know no 
limits, and drop our sad tears on the ocean of Time, the heaving of 
whose billows never cease. To living friends and kindred we tender all 
the heart-felt sympathy of common loss and deepest woe. 

Let laureled marbles weigh on other tombs, 

Let anthems peal for other dead, 
Rustling the bannered depth of minster glooms 

With their exulting spread. 

• * 
This epitaph shall mock the short-lived stone, 

No lichen shall its lines efface ; 
They need these few and simple lines alone 

To mark their resting place. 



236 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Here lies a Hero, stranger, if to thee 

His claim to memory be obscure ; 
If thou wouldst learn how truly great was he, 

Go ask of Memphis and her stricken poor. 

Farewell, Brothers, knightly noble, 

In our hearts inurned each name. 
Sad good night to face and form, 

Hail good morn to living fame. 

Resolved, That a page be left blank in our minute book in commem- 
oration of our loss. 

Resolved, That our Castle Hall be draped in mourning for the period 
of thirty days, and the officers and members perform the usual ceremonies 
and wear the usual badge of mourning. Further, be it 

Resolved, That the papers of our city be requested to publish these 
proceedings, and that a copy of the same be sent to friends and relatives, 
and also to the Supreme Chancellor of the World. 

Later still we have an illustration of this bravery and 
friendship unto death in the following quotation from the 
annual report of Supreme Chancellor Douglass : 

' ' On the evening of April 4th, at Savanna, Indian 
Territory, Anchor Lodge, No. 1, was in session, and a 
very enjoyable time was being spent, it being the occasion 
of Hope Lodge, No. 2, paying No. 1 a visit in a body. 
Brother James Ward, the Deputy Supreme Chancellor, 
was present. All went merry as a marriage bell. Brother 
Ward had just presented a motion, appropriating five dol- 
lars towards the purchase of tickets to a concert for the 
benefit of a lodge, when, to the horror of all present, a 
terrific explosion was heard — a sound portending no good 
in a coal mining camp. The Lodge was hastily closed. 
Getting into the air, the cause was at once evident. Up 
into the air, one hundred feet, shot a sea of flame ; for a 
hundred yards around the opening the ground was torn, 
and the timbers hurled in the air. The explosion had 
taken place in mine No. 2, and David Jones, one of the 
members of Anchor Lodge, No. 1, was known to be on 
duty in the mine at the time. James Ward was foreman 
of mine No. 1. He took in the situation at once. He 
knew that Brother Jones was there. Taking off his coat, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 237 

and leading on, he called out his last words in life, ' Who 
will volunteer to follow me?' Brothers George Hill, 
Fred Bartz, John E. Williams, Pat Fagan, James Rolando, 
William G. Hunter and Past Chancellor Peter Mclnnis 
responded to the call. Down through mine No. i they 
went, led by the intrepid. Ward, and reached the fated 
passage that led into mine No. 2. On the fourth level in 
No. I the choke damp forced its way upon the gallant 
Knights ; its very touch is death, and the brave Ward, 
Hill, Williams, Bartz and Fagan went down before the 
'noisome pestilence.' Brothers Hunter, Rolando and 
Mclnnis were subsequently taken out insensible. Brother 
David Jones had previously perished. Not till the next 
day could the bodies be reached — the last to be brought 
out being that of Deputy Supreme Chancellor James 
Ward. Altogether, twelve men perished, one-half being 
Knights. With tender hands they were prepared for 
burial, and three thousand sad hearts followed them to 
their long home, where, side by side, they were laid away 
to rest — a noble band who faced death, inspired with the 
hope that others might live — ' faithful even unto death.' " 

We might tell of the heroic death of Peter Woodland, of 
Hector Lodge, No. 49, in Philadelphia, Pa., who was 
killed on July 21, 1880, in the disaster at the Hudson 
River Tunnel, a voluntary sacrifice to save the lives of his 
comrades and brothers. 

Other examples might be furnished of what men and 
members of the Order have done in exemplifying the ten- 
ets of the Order. They might have done the same thing, 
had they not been members, but certain it is that the les- 
sons taught within our Castle halls had made a deep and 
thorough impression on their minds. Faithful and true 
were these men, and they now rest from their labors of 
devotion to duty. Year by year let their graves be strewn 
with the rarest and choicest of flowers, and the memory 



238 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of their deeds that remains to the living who perform this 
deed of love should quicken and deepen the principles 
we have sworn to uphold and defend. 

We also strive to impress the absolute necessity of the 
practice of that principle of moral bravery that goes man- 
fully through the world, daring to be right and do right, 
though all the world should despise and hate. It should 
be that spirit that will lead a man to stand for the op- 
pressed and against the oppressor, wherever and under 
whatever circumstances found. 

Thus, as briefly as possible, we have sketched the tenets 
and principles on which this Order is founded, with exem- 
plifications of these matters that have been wrought into 
the warp and woof of the life of the Order, and the lives 
of its members. 

The Order is yet in its infancy. Compared with some 
of the older societies, we are to-day but fairly started on 
the highway of success ; what the distant future is to bring 
us, and what place we, as an Order, shall fill in that future, 
God, in his infinite wisdom, only knows. This we be- 
lieve : to man there is yet to be a grander, higher, and 
holier advancement in the great brotherhood of nations 
and men, and we trust that this Order will lead the van and 
act a worthy part in that onward and upward movement. 

Said an eminent artist, who, after long months of care- 
ful study and labor, stood gazing on the canvas upon 
which his hand and genius had wrought a most wondrous 
picture, marvelous in its truthfulness and beauty, "I have 
painted for eternity." So we believe Ave are building this 
Order for eternity. Her record thus far has been a most 
glorious one, in the sympathy and aid that has gone out 
from her to the thousands of earth's toiling and careworn 
sons and daughters ; and the good thus done will perpet- 
uate itself in similar deeds of Friendship, Charity and 
Benevolence, so long as brave souls, loving hearts, and 
willing hands abide on earth. 




SAMUEL READ, 

Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



239 



CHAPTER IX. 



The Supreme Lodge 1869 to 1872 inclusive — Administration of 
Supreme Chancellor Read — Growth of the Order— The " Con- 
claves " — " Degrees " changed to " Ranks " — Translations of the 
Ritual — Action in regard to Establishment in Foreign Coun- 
tries—New Ritual Adopted— Amplified Third — Its Author — 
Titles of Subordinate Lodge Officers changed — Positions and 
Duties of — Samuel Read, P. S. C. 




¥ 



FIRST annual session of the Supreme 
Lodge was held in the city of Rich- 
mond, Va., March 9, 1869, Samuel 
Read, Supreme Chancellor, presiding. The 
following States, as Grand Jurisdictions, 
were represented : New York, Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 
and the District of Columbia. 

After the report of the Committee on 
Credentials, the Grand Jurisdiction of Con- 
necticut was represented, making in all eight 
Grand Jurisdictions in the Supreme Lodge 
These Grand Jurisdictions had been created 
and instituted as such, as follows : District of Columbia, 
April 8, 1864; Pennsylvania, January 1, 1868; New Jer- 
sey, March 16, 1868; Maryland, March 17, 1868; Dela- 
ware, May 14, 1868; New York, October 29, 1868; 
Virginia, October 30, 1868; Connecticut, January 18, 
1869. But five short years had elapsed since the first 
meeting was held and an organization effected, and yet at 
this, the first annual session of the Supreme Lodge, the 
membership of the Order, including Pages and Esquires, 



at that time. 



24O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

had reached the surprising total of nearly thirty-five thou- 
sand souls. This unparalleled prosperity appears all the 
more remarkable when we remember that during consid- 
erably more than one year of that time the Nation was 
engaged in a most terrible civil war, and there was no 
opportunity to push the work of establishing the Order. 
When the war ceased, it left the two sections of the coun- 
try excited by feelings almost as bitter as those engen- 
dered during the very height of the conflict. The sol- 
diers of both armies earnestly desired to see themselves 
settled and begin anew the life of private citizens. New 
homes were being sought both North and South, and each 
ex-soldier felt that in civil life he had in some way 
dropped to the rear of the column, and that it would 
require all of his time, strength, and money to win in the 
life race and struggle. It would have seemed that all 
classes of men were too busy to think of looking after 
such an infant as the Order of the Knights of Pythias ; 
matters of greater moment, they might have said, required 
their attention. Then again, the whole country was in 
great commotion over the great problem of ' ' Reconstruc- 
tion." The adjustment of matters at the close of the war, 
so far as the actual soldier element was concerned, required 
but little time. The soldiers of both armies were tired 
enough of war and bloodshed. Having stood opposed, face 
to face, fighting desperately on many a bloody battle field, 
they had learned to regard each other with that profound 
respect which all brave men feel for others equally brave, 
no matter how much their opinions may differ, and were 
ready to bury the animosities engendered by war, and 
strike glad hands in token of the renewal of the bond 
of brotherhood and peace. This soldierly feeling drew 
together both comrades in arms, and those who had worn 
the blue and those who had worn the gray, and all were 
ready to unite under one common banner, and in one 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 24I 

organization that would tend to strengthen and perpetuate 
these kindly feelings. To all such the Knights of Pythias 
appealed most strongly. The Order was in name a semi- 
military organization ; it was a child of the war days, yet 
born for peace, and to disseminate the highest character- 
istics of peace. It declared in favor of bravery and forti- 
tude, and the dissemination of the highest virtues known 
to civilized and enlightened humanity, and such being the 
case it naturally led the soldiers of both sides to investi- 
gate its principles and tenets, and this investigation carried 
them through the portals and into the Castle Halls, as 
earnest, enthusiastic members of the Order. These were 
no ordinary class of men. They were then just in the 
prime of their manhood. The life they had lived from 
1 86 1 to 1865 had taught them the possibility of great 
achievements if undertaken and pushed with a brave 
determination to succeed. These were men greater in 
their experiences than all the men who had lived on the 
continent before them. Some of them had heard the 
opening gun of the war; all of them had rejoiced when 
the last one was fired. These ex-soldiers had marched 
and fought under Grant or Lee, Sherman or Johnston, or 
Sheridan, or Jackson. They had followed the banners of 
their leaders when they waved in triumph, and were with 
them when they had gone down in defeat. They had 
heard the shouts of the charging columns in more than a 
hundred battles, battles lost and battles won, and now, 
at the close of all these scenes, when the roar of the can- 
non, the rattle of the musketry, and the clash of the 
sabre were hushed, we hope, forever, and time drew them 
from the days of carnage, they hailed this Order as the 
one above all others where all differences could be healed, 
and the men of the North and the men of the South could 
once more greet each other as brothers. And thus it 
was that not only were the Federal soldiers gathered 



242 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

together in the North as comrades, but it brought both 
armies into friendly contact, and having come together 
there was no half-way work about it, for they showed the 
dash, the spirit and daring of the American soldier in 
everything they did. The tri- colored banner of red, 
orange and blue was to them the banner of peace. 
Wherever it should be carried there was to be fellowship 
and good will, and with this idea uppermost in their 
thoughts and desires they unfurled our flag to the breeze 
and moved forward to victory. By this class of men it 
was carried into the South, and by the same class there 
received. The era of hearty good will and fraternal feel- 
ing wrought by the Order is best told by the Supreme 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe, Clarence M. Barton, 
in his report of the instituting of the Grand Lodge of 
Virginia. He says: "I cannot speak in too flattering 
terms of the manner in which we were received by the 
Virginians, and the hospitable manner in which they enter- 
tained us. The Order in that State is composed of splen- 
did material, and they are pushing forward the work with 
commendable zeal." 

The principles and published declarations of the Order 
attracted the attention of all classes of our people, and 
at once enlisted them in its favor. Its coming was the 
clear sunshine after the storm ; it was like the sound of 
the peace-proclaiming Sabbath bell, after the roar of the 
battle ; its mission was to bury strife, and usher in the 
new reign of friendship and good will to men. With 
this view of the case, then, is it to be marveled at that 
the Knights of Pythias grew and multiplied ? Turning 
our attention still further to its growth, we find that aside 
from the States that were represented at this session of the 
Supreme Lodge, the Order had been established in Louis- 
iana, California and Nebraska. The first organization of 
the Order west of the Alleghanies was in Omaha, Nebraska, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 243 

December 3, 1868. The work of establishing the Order 
there was done by an ex-soldier, Col. Geo. H. Crager, and 
he yet remains as earnest and valiant a Knight as he was a 
brave and gallant soldier, and so he will remain to his 
death. 

The work of making Past Supreme and Past Grand 
Chancellors at that time was a very simple affair, com- 
pared with what it is now. All that seemed to be neces- 
sary was to have a good brother on the inside, who would 
make the motion, or introduce the resolution, and the 
thing was done. It did not take long, however, to get 
over this kind of business, for we find very soon that the 
doors were closed, and steps were taken for making both 
Grand and Supreme Lodges representative bodies. 

It was during this session of the Supreme Lodge that 
a charter was granted for the first lodge to be organized 
in the State of Ohio. Certain citizens of Steubenville, 
Ohio, applied to this Supreme Lodge for a charter, which 
was granted. 

The general business of the session consisted principally 
in detail legislation ; that is to say, in matters pertaining to 
the financial affairs of the Supreme Lodge, amendments to 
the Constitution in unimportant particulars. There was, 
however, the fuller development of the cloud which at the 
organization of the Supreme Lodge was no larger than a 
man's hand. It had now so increased in size that it threat- 
ened to overshadow the entire Order — at least this seemed 
to be the impression on the part of a majority of the mem- 
bers of the Supreme Lodge. As we shall take up the 
subject of the Conclaves further on in this chapter, we 
refer to it here simply to show that in the midst of the 
prosperity that attended the young Order, it was also sur- 
rounded with dangers; for, whether any danger to the 
life of the Order was intended by the originators of the 
Conclave or not, certain it is that some there were who 



244 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

thrust it before the Order in such a manner that it Drought 
contention into the Supreme Lodge, and some of the 
States, which threatened the existence of the entire organ- 
ization. 

Another matter that began to affect the management 
of the Order was the financial problem. How to raise 
money sufficient to meet the pressing demands and keep 
the machinery in motion until sufficient funds could be 
realized from the Grand Jurisdictions, was then a great 
question, and promised to become even greater, before 
it could be fully settled. 

The Supreme Lodge having been in session for three 
days, and having transacted all the business brought be- 
fore it, decided to hold the next annual session in the city 
of New York, and adjourned to the second Tuesday in 
March, 1870. 

The second annual session of the Supreme Lodge was 
convened in Masonic Hall, on Thirteenth street, in the 
city of New York, at 10 o'clock a. m., of Tuesday, March 
8, 1870, Samuel Read, Supreme Chancellor, presiding. 

The following jurisdictions were represented by their 
Grand Chancellors and Representatives, and constituted 
the Supreme Lodge on that morning, to wit: District of 
Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Dela- 
ware, New York, Virginia, and Connecticut. 

During the interim between the adjournment of the 
first annual session of the Supreme Lodge and the con- 
vening of this the second session, the following Grand 
Jurisdictions had been organized: West Virginia, organ- 
ized July 5, 1869; Ohio, organized July 9, 1869; Ken- 
tucky, organized July 17, 1869; California, organized 
September 28, 1869; Nebraska, organized October 13, 
1869; Indiana, organized October 20, 1869; Massa- 
chusetts, organized December 17, 1869; Illinois, organ- 
ized February 4, 1870. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 245 

Representatives from these Grand Jurisdictions pre- 
sented their credentials and were admitted as members of 
the Supreme Lodge at this session. The year that had 
elapsed since the previous session of the Supreme Lodge 
had been a prosperous one. The number of Grand 
Lodges had increased from eight to sixteen, and the 
membership from 34,626 to 54,289. A statement of 
the annual growth of the Order up to this period may not 
be uninteresting: December 31, 1864, 3 lodges, 78 mem- 
bers; December 31, 1865, 1 lodge, 52 members; Decem- 
ber 31, 1866, 4 lodges, 379 members; December 31, 1867, 
41 lodges, 6,847 members; December 31, 1868, 194 
lodges, 34,626 members; December 31, 1869, 465 lodges, 
54,289 members. 

The States in which Grand Lodges had been established 
were not, however, the only ones in which the Order had 
gained a foothold during the past year. Subordinate 
Lodges had been established in Iowa, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Wyoming Territory, New Hampshire, and Mis- 
souri, and in each of these States a very active spirit was 
shown in building up the Order on solid foundations, and 
the history of to-day shows that they were well laid and 
sure. The present prosperous condition of the Knights of 
Pythias in all of the States above named shows how thor- 
oughly the interests of the Order were guarded by its 
founders, and the care with which the men were selected on 
whom their mantels were to fall. Very early the founders 
of the Order realized the fact that if this was to be made 
a progressive Order, the young men must be brought into 
it as the chief factors in the work. It was proclaimed to 
be the young men's society, and young men of promise, of 
energy, and force, were enlisted in its interests. Since 
the first few years of its existence this class of men have 
helped to push it to the front, while at the same time we 
have had men of maturer years — older in experience in 



246 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

societies, and in the management and control of men. 
This younger element began to manifest its power with 
the session of the Supreme Lodge of 1870. 

The vexed question of the Conclaves made its appear- 
ance in this session, first in the Supreme Chancellor's report, 
followed by the Supreme Scribe's report. Afterward, 
during the session, much time was occupied in heated 
debate by the members. The matter of uniformity in the 
work early received the attention of Supreme Chancellor 
Read, and the members of the Supreme Lodge. Gath- 
ered into this young Order were many from the older 
societies, and it was a very difficult matter to make them 
understand or realize that this was to be an entirely new 
organization, in work as well as in every other feature. 
There was on the part of some the disposition, at any and 
all times, to suggest that the Masonic Grand Lodge, or 
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, do thus and 
so, and we should follow their example. No disparage- 
ment of these or other societies is in the least intended 
when we state that Supreme Chancellor Read tried to 
have the Knights break away from the old lines, and 
the good work has been going steadily on, until at 
last, in these latter days, the Order of Knights of Pythias 
is known and recognized not only by the outside world, 
but by its own members as a distinctive Order. The 
representative system for Grand Jurisdictions in the 
Supreme Lodge was brought forward by the Supreme 
Chancellor. The system then proposed was the same 
system as provided by the National Constitution for repre- 
sentation by States in the United States Senate. This was 
urged for various reasons, chiefest of which was that the 
Supreme body would soon become too large, expensive 
and unwieldy. For the further reason, that each Grand 
Jurisdiction should have an equal representation on the 
floor of the Supreme Lodge, and an equal vote on all 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 247 

questions affecting- the welfare of the Order. This system 
was finally adopted, though not at this session. 

The questions of pass-words and dues, the relation of 
each to the other, and the defining of what constituted 
good standing in the Order, were also settled at this session 
of the Supreme Lodge, which forever put the veto upon 
any one being admitted into a lodge of Knights of Pythias 
by having some brother Knight vouch for him. This 
vouching for another was too old to stand the test of Young 
American ideas. This was to be a society where every 
member must stand on his merits, and the commander of 
the lodge was to apply the test of "good standing" to 
every one who rapped for admission to the Castle Hall, 
and under no circumstances could one Knight communicate 
the pass-word to another unless legally and specially em- 
powered so to do. 

At this session the Constitutions of the following Grand 
Lodges were approved : Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New 
York, Kentucky, Indiana, California, West Virginia, and 
Massachusetts. 

Two questions, in the form of resolutions, came up, as 
they had done before, and have at almost every subse- 
quent session of the Supreme Lodge : the question of 
establishing higher ranks or degrees, and also a rank or 
degree for ladies, to both of which the Supreme Lodge 
gave a very decided refusal. 

The question of the adoption of a design for a flag for 
the Order having been referred to a committee, the com- 
mittee made three reports, each one in its order being 
recommitted to the committee for amendment, until finally 
the entire matter was continued until the next session of 
the Supreme Lodge. 

In the election of Supreme Lodge officers, the follow- 
ing was the result: Wilbur H. Myers, Supreme Vener- 
able Patriarch ; Samuel Read, Supreme Chancellor ; C. L. 



248 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Russell, Supreme Vice Chancellor; Clarence M. Barton, 
Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe ; Wm. A. 
Potter, Supreme Banker; John A. Comstock, Supreme 
Guide ; H. C. Lloyd, Supreme Inner Steward ; Geo. H. 
Crager, Supreme Outer Steward. 

It was decided to hold the third annual session in the 
city -of Philadelphia, Pa., on the third Tuesday in April, 
1 87 1. Adjourned. 

The third annual session of the Supreme Lodge met 
in Philadelphia on the 18th day of April, 1871. Since 
the close of the annual session of 1870, the Order had 
been instituted in Minnesota, Vermont, North Caro 
lina, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Rhode 
Island, Maine, Michigan and in New Brunswick, while 
Grand Lodges had been organized in Iowa, New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Georgia, Louisiana and Wis- 
consin. The total membership of the Order reported at 
this session, as compiled from reports of Grand Lodges 
and Lodges under the control of the Supreme Lodge on 
Dec. 31, 1870, was 58,577, an increase during the year of 
4,288. The Conclave troubles which had been kept at 
fever heat during the year had much to do in retarding 
the growth of the Order, and caused the withdrawal of 
many good men. The subjects connected with the Con- 
claves again occupied a large portion of the reports of the 
Supreme Chancellor and the Supreme Recording and 
Corresponding Scribe. The most important work per- 
formed at this session of the Supreme Lodge was the 
adoption of amendments to the Supreme Lodge Consti- 
tution, whereby the Supreme Lodge was made a repre- 
sentative body. The amendments on this subject provided 
that the Supreme Lodge should be composed of the 
officers of that body and two Supreme Representatives 
from each Grand Lodge under the jurisdiction of the 
Supreme Lodge, and that the Supreme Representatives 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. ' 249 

must be chosen from Past Grand Chancellors. It was 
further provided that all Past Grand Chancellors should 
be admitted to seats on the floor of the Supreme Lodge, 
but that they should have no vote, and ' ' not be entitled 
to speak except by consent of the Supreme Lodge." 

The fourth annual session of the Supreme Lodge was 
held in the city of Baltimore, Md., April 16, 1872, 
Supreme Chancellor Read presiding. The Supreme Chan- 
cellor reported the organization of six Grand Lodges since 
the last session of the Supreme Lodge, to wit : Missouri, 
Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and 
Ontario, Canada. The total membership of the Order was 
78,297, an increase for the year of 19,720, 

It is pleasing to note that in his report the Supreme 
Chancellor announced that ' ' peace prevails throughout 
the entire Jurisdiction." So much of the former reports 
and legislation had been taken up with " Conclaves " and 
" O. B. N." that it seemed as though the whole work and 
progress of the Order was to be permanently impeded by 
the wrangle over a matter which, if let alone, would prob- 
ably never have interfered with the work or growth of the 
Knights of Pythias, for most certainly the men who origi- 
nated the Conclave were men whose zeal for the Knights 
of Pythias had not been and could not have been called in 
question up to that date, and their subsequent lives have 
shown them to be as true and devoted Knights of Pythias 
as are found anywhere. Had it not been for the action of 
one man, who held a prominent official position in the Su- 
preme Lodge, and who was one of the original members of 
the Conclave, it is doubtful if any disturbance would have 
resulted from the organization. This same man afterward 
proved a defaulter to the Supreme Lodge, and to-day, be- 
cause of his defalcation, is no longer a member of the Order. 
These are matters well known to the older members of the 
Order. This was the man who, it is believed, in order to 



250 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

gratify some particular animosity, some spirit of revenge, 
brought about the confusion and turmoil that arose over the 
Conclave business. Now that its end has been reached in the 
Supreme Lodge, as stated by Supreme Chancellor Read 
above, and as it is no longer an adjunct of the Order of 
Knights of Pythias, we may inquire what was it ? Who 
were the men who brought it into existence ? The Con- 
clave was originated during the life of the Provisional 
Supreme Lodge, in the city of Washington, by authority 
of that body. The ritual was written by Justus H. Rath- 
bone, the Founder of the Order, and the original mem- 
bers who were associated at the first meeting when the 
Knights of Pythias as a society was born, February 19, 
1864, were members of the Conclave. Nor were they the 
only ones, but the very best men of this fraternity were 
in it, including the man who afterward became its most 
bitter and avowed enemy. We refer to Clarence M. Barton, 
the Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe in the 
Supreme Lodge. It is not our intention to pose as the 
apologist for anything that may have been wrong, if there 
was anything wrong, but to give the facts to the members 
of the Order while the active participants are yet for the 
most part alive. It has been charged that these men were 
conspiring against the life and future prosperity of the young 
society. Can this be true ? Is it fair and reasonable to 
suppose that the men who were the fathers of the Knights 
of Pythias would so early in the life of their child attempt 
to strangle it ? Now that we are away from the heat and 
passion of the days of the Conclave, let us treat these 
men with the fairness and candor to which their work in 
the Order, both before and since, entitles them. We have 
talked with not one, but many of the men, who were 
members of the Conclave, and each of them have said that 
their object, and their only object, in organizing the Con- 
clave was to strengthen the Order and bring it up to a 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 25 I 

higher sphere of usefulness and thought. The fact that 
the ritual of that rank was prepared under the direction 
of some of the most earnest members of the Order, 
all in good standing, and working for the advancement of 
the society, is most certainly evidence that it was done in 
good faith, else that ritual would have been kept concealed 
from the membership. Not so ; it was openly declared to 
be a part and parcel of the Order. The very men who were 
in the Conclave were in attendance on the preliminary meet- 
ing for the formation of a Supreme Lodge, and were mem- 
bers of the first Supreme Lodge, aiding in formulating its 
first constitution and the laws that were to govern the entire 
body. Some of those men have been members of the 
Supreme Lodge ever since. True it is that at the com- 
mand of the Supreme Lodge, like loyal men, and with a 
devotion to their first love, they gave up their membership 
in the Conclave, and obeyed the mandates of the supreme 
authority which they had helped to make. So much for 
its originators, at the outset, and up to the time that the 
Supreme Lodge declared it to be "contraband of war." 
The following are the first notices of the Conclave in 
the Supreme Lodge At the called session of the Supreme 
Lodge which met in Wilmington, Del., November 9, 1868, 
the Supreme Chancellor thus called attention to the 

CONCLAVES. 

My attention has been called to the fact that ' ' Conclaves of 
Knights of Pythias" have been organized by members of this 
Order, and are generally accepted as being higher degrees of the 
Order ; that they have been organized on Sundays, and well cal- 
culated to mislead. Such a move is to be regretted, not only as 
to the name, but the time is not calculated to elevate any such 
society in the minds of reflecting men. 

The Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe 
also, in his report, thus refers to the 



252 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

CONCLAVES. 

On the 23d of October a notice appeared in the Evening 
Star, of Washington, D. C, viz.: " Knights of Pythias — Damon 
Conclave, No. 1, S. P. K., holds its regular meeting on Saturday 
evening, etc., by order of the Sir Knight Commander," signed 
by the "Recorder." Knowing that the Supreme Lodge, at its 
last session, had recognized no higher degree than those already 
established in the ritual, and that no such rank as ' ' Sir Knight 
Commander" or "Recorder" existed in the Order, I deemed it 
my duty to correct the impression which might be formed in the 
minds of the members of the Order in that Jurisdiction, that 
such an institution was attached to the Knights of Pythias. I 
inserted the following in the Star of the next evening : 

' ' Knights of Pythias : — The Supreme Lodge of this Order, 
at its last session, unanimously passed the following : 

" Resolved, That we recognize no higher degree or degrees than those 
already established in the ritual of the Order. 

' ' There is no such institution attached to this Order as Damon 
Conclave, No. 1. Damon Lodge, No. 13, meets every Tuesday 
night at Stott's Hall, First Ward. 

"Clarence M. Barton, 
" Supreme Recording and CoiTesponding Scribe." 

Let us now retrace our steps a little, and look after at 
least one character who figured very prominently in this 
business^ and it is desired in this connection to call 
attention to the fact that at the first meeting for the 
organization of the Supreme Lodge, August 1 1, 1868, 
the following resolution was offered by P. G. C Kron- 
Jieimer y of the District of Columbia : 

Resolved, That P. G. C.'s C. M. Barton, H. Kronheimer, D. 
Carrigan, and others, be empowered to write a higher degree or 
degrees of this Order, to be approved by this body before being 
attached to the ritual. 

This resolution was lost, and the following resolution 
was afterward presented and adopted : 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 253 

Resolved, That the Supreme Lodge recognizes no higher degree 
or degrees of the Order than those now established in the ritual of 
the Order. 

It is not reasonable to believe that P. G. C. Kron- 
heimer, at the time he submitted his resolution to inaugu- 
rate the "higher degree" or "degrees," intended to 
destroy the Order, yet we find that he, at the called session 
which met at Wilmington the same year, introduced the 
following series of resolutions : 

Whereas, This Supreme Lodge did, at its organization and first 
session, refuse to recognize any higher degree or degrees than those 
already established in the ritual of the Order ; and 

Whereas, Since that session an Order has been started in the 
city of Washington, District of Columbia, and elsewhere, first called 
the " Supreme Order Knights of Pythias," then the " Supreme 
Pythian Knighthood," then " Knights of Pythias, Order of S. P. K.," 
which Order, as can readily be seen from its varied titles, is endeav- 
oring to flourish and prosper under cover of the Knights of Pythias ; 
and 

Whereas, The membership of this spurious Knights of Pythias 
organization openly boast that they take no members save those 
who belong to a Subordinate Lodge, Knights of Pythias, thus endeav- 
oring to show that they are a Supreme Order, or confer a higher 
degree; and 

Whereas, It is the duty of each and every member of this young 
and growing Order to first build up and place upon a sure footing 
the Order as it stands in its original purity, without endeavoring to 
nullify the laws of this Supreme Lodge by organizing "would-be 
branches," styled "Conclaves," therefore be it 

Resolved, That the Supreme Lodge, having a tender solicitude for 
the welfare of the Order, and an earnest and sincere desire to see it 
prosper and flourish, warns the brethren throughout the various juris- 
dictions against affiliating with any institution pretending to have any 
connection with the Knights of Pythias ; be it also 

Resolved, That the above preamble and resolutions be forwarded, 
officially, to every Subordinate Lodge in the country ; to be read to 
the brethren the first meeting after its reception. 

These preambles and resolutions were adopted, the 
mover of them and Clarence M. Barton being of the 
number voting in the affirmative. If these gentlemen 
were honest in presenting the resolution to establish higher 
ranks, were they honest in the last? From this the 
excitement in regard to the Conclaves began, and waxed 



254 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

hotter and hotter. It should be borne in mind however 
that the Conclave was older than the Supreme Lodge, not- 
withstanding the asseveration in the second "whereas" of 
the preamble. 

From the excitement that grew out of the Conclave 
business came the celebrated O. B. N., which produced so 
much trouble in the Grand Jurisdictions of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. The troubles in these two States were 
greater than in any others. To those who do not under- 
stand what the O. B. N. was, it is well simply to state 
that it was an obligation that all the members of Subor- 
dinate Lodges were required to take, that if they were 
members of the Conclave they would sever their con- 
nection therewith, and of those not members that they 
would not become such. This was an obligation that 
the Supreme Lodge, in its sovereign capacity, had a 
right to require ; and once the Supreme Lodge passed 
the edict, it was the duty of Supreme Chancellor Read 
to enforce it, and he did enforce it fully. Pennsylvania 
and Maryland, by their Grand Lodge officers, refused 
to obey the edict, and the Supreme Chancellor dissolved 
the Grand Lodge bodies of those two States, and placed 
them under provisional government, and afterward organ- 
ized Grand Lodges loyal to the Supreme Lodge. Other 
States protested against the action of the Supreme Lodge, 
but none others openly rebelled. 

At the session of the Supreme Lodge which met in 
the city of Richmond, Va. , March, 1869, a committee of 
conference, consisting of five who were members of the 
Conclave and five who were not, was appointed to see if 
the difficulties could not be adjusted. This committee 
submitted the following unconditional report: 

The committee on behalf of the Supreme Lodge of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias, offer the following proposition: "That 
the rituals of the order of 'S. P. K.' shall be laid at the altar of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 255 

the Supreme Lodge, the members of said Supreme Lodge obli- 
gating themselves to keep forever secret any of the matters in 
said rituals." 

Under this report, which was received and adopted, the 
rituals were produced, and the following obligation was 
administered to the members of the Supreme Lodge : 
' ' We do solemnly pledge our word and sacred honor, that 
what we shall hear and read as the ritual of the S. P. K. 
shall never be revealed, under the solemnity of our obli- 
gations as members of the Knights of Pythias." The 
rituals were then read and exemplified by P. S. C. Rath- 
bone, and other members of the Conclave, thus show- 
ing that these brothers were acting in good faith as 
members of the Order of Knights of Pythias. This act on 
their part evidently changed the views of a majority 
of the members of the Supreme Lodge towards them, 
for immediately thereafter a motion was made to indefi- 
nitely postpone a resolution which had been introduced for 
the ' ' suspension of members of the Conclave, that did not 
disconnect themselves from that institution after thirty 
days' notice," and the motion to postpone indefinitely was 
carried by a vote of 25 to 16. Bear in mind, that up to 
the time of the reading of the S. P. K. ritual, the mem- 
bers of the Supreme Lodge, who were fighting it, knew 
nothing of what it contained, with one notable exception, 
that of Clarence M. Barton, an expelled member of the 
Conclave. After this, by resolution, the Conclaves were 
placed under the control of the Supreme Lodge, the 
following being the series of resolutions on the subject : 

Resolved, That this Supreme Lodge assume the control and 
government of all Conclaves now in existence, requiring from each 
Conclave a list of their officers, date and number of charter, and 
place of location. 

Resolved, That the government and control of all Conclaves now 
in existence shall be placed in charge of a committee of five mem- 
bers of this Supreme Lodge ; said Committee shall be clothed with 
full power to do and perform all things required to protect the rights, 



256 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

privileges, and prerogatives of all Conclaves or brothers connected 
iherewith, and the welfare and interest of the Order of the K. of P. ; 
provided, that said committee shall not issue, or cause to be issued, 
any dispensations, charters, or privileges, to create new Conclaves, 
or confer said degrees, or any other degrees outside of a regtdar 
Conclave. 

Further resolved, That no dispensation or charter shall be granted 
to institute Conclaves until the next annual session of this Supreme 
Lodge. 

The committee was appointed, all of them being 
members of the Supreme Lodge who were not members 
of the Conclave. 

It is well to state in this connection that the ritual of 
the Conclaves, or " S. P. K.," is yet in the possession of 
the Supreme Lodge, and those who have seen it say 
that it is one of the finest rituals that has ever been pre- 
pared for an order. 

Under the resolutions above cited it would seem to 
the casual reader that while no new Conclaves could be 
instituted before the next session of the Supreme Lodge, 
yet the Conclaves then in existence could carry on their 
work, initiating new members, but it seems that the 
committee appointed to look after them did not so inter- 
pret the resolution, for in their report at the next session 
they state that "The loyalty and faithfulness of the 
Knights of Pythias in Pennsylvania has well-nigh crushed 
the Conclaves, although some of them have been initiating 
members in large numbers, requiring, as a prerequisite, that 
they be Knights of Pythias. " So the fight waxed stronger 
and stronger, and at last developed into a contest for the 
mastery. As before stated, the Supreme Lodge had the 
right to say what should or should not constitute good 
standing in the Order, and what should or should not be 
a part of the Order. It decided most emphatically that 
the Conclave, or "S. P. K.," should not be a part of the 
Order, and that each member, each Subordinate Lodge 
and each Grand Lodge must purge itself from all con- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 257 

nection with the institution. It was no longer a question 
as to whether there was evil in the Conclave, but it was a 
question of the supremacy of the Supreme Lodge. 

By authority of the Supreme Lodge, Supreme Chan- 
cellor Read, on the ioth of March, 1870, issued the 
following : 

To the Order of Knights of Pythias : 

Whereas, The Supreme Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at its 
organization, August 11, 1868, revoked any and all authority 
granted by the Provisional Supreme Lodge, June, 1868, to any 
person or persons to write or establish a higher degree or 
degrees, etc. ; and also emphatically declared there was no other 
than the Page, Esquire, and Knight Degrees, nor any side or 
branch degrees in this Order, re-affirming the same November 
session, 1868, Wilmington, Del., and annual session, 1869, 
Richmond, Va. ; since which time certain members of the 
Knights of Pythias have been instituting Conclaves of S. P. K., 
styling them a higher degree of the Knights of Pythias, where- 
by many Brothers have been deceived and led astray, to 
the great injury and annoyance of the Order, particularly in 
the jurisdictions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and District of 
Columbia ; 

Therefore, at the session of the Supreme Lodge, March, 
1870, in New York, definite action was taken to apprise the 
entire Order of the wicked deception, and fully caution all 
members of the Knights of Pythias that they withdraw all 
affiliation with the Conclaves of S. P. K. , or any other branch 
of said organization which in the most remote degree professes 
to promote the principles of Pythian Knighthood. 

The object to be obtained is to purge the Order of Knights 
of Pythias of all who have designedly done wrong, or those 
innocently led astray, as also to caution every one against con- 
necting themselves with any disaffected or unfaithful persons, 
pretending to organize a charitable or benevolent Order for the 
promulgation of high and noble principles, when, in fact, they 
are the marked violators of their obligations in the noble Order 
of Knights of Pythias. 



258 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Upon the report of the committee having charge of all 
Conclaves, Supreme Representative Lowry, Jr., of Pennsyl- 
vania, offered the following substitute as an amendment thereto : 

That all Past Chancellors, members of this Order, who are attached 
to the Order known as S. P. K. or Conclaves, are hereby required to 
present to their respective Grand Lodges conclusive evidence within 
sixty days that they have purged themselves of all connection with the 
Order of S. P. K. or Conclaves of said Order ; and in the event of their 
failure to do so, the several Grand Lodges be, and they are hereby 
ordered and directed to refuse all such brothers admittance, and all 
officers, who are members of Grand Lodges, refusing compliance, shall 
be forthwith removed from office. 

Resolved, That all Grand Chancellors (except the Grand Chancellor 
of Maryland) shall forward all such evidence to this Supreme Lodge. 

Resolved, That all members of the Supreme Lodge, who are members 
of the Conclaves of S. P. K., who fail to furnish such evidence to their 
Grand Lodges within the time specified for transmission to this Supreme 
Lodge, be, and are hereby declared forever disqualified from taking a 
seat in this body as a member thereof. 

Resolved, That the Supreme Chancellor be, and is hereby directed to 
cite Past Grand Chancellor Stoddard, of Maryland, before the Committee 
on Conclaves, and require of him such evidence of his disconnection with 
the Conclaves of S. P. K. as will convince him that Brother Stoddard has 
purged himself of his offense. 

The above being under consideration, Supreme Representa- 
tive Latham, of Virginia, amended as follows : 

Resolved, That any member of the Order who is now in affiliation 
with the Conclave of S. P. K. shall immediately dissolve all connection 
with said organization. 

Resolved, That any member who may refuse to abjure his connection 
with Conclaves of S. P. K. shall be suspended by the Lodge to which he 
may be attached.' 

Resolved, That the several Grand Lodges be directed to enforce the 
above resolutions, and any Lodge that may refuse to obey the mandates 
of the Supreme Lodge shall forfeit its charter. 

The amendment of Supreme Representative Latham to the 
substitute of Supreme Representative Lowry, Jr., for the resolu- 
tions of the Committee on Conclaves, was adopted by a vote of 
thirty-four to eight. 

Hear ye, therefore, all true Knights, and obey the mandates 
of the Supreme Lodge, that our noble Order "may have 
peace." May every loyal Knight feel it his solemn duty to 
avail himself of the present movement to rid our Order of those 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 259 

who are unfaithful, and establish safeguards for the future. The 
Grand Chancellors will see to it, that the Chancellors of Subor- 
dinate Lodges carry out the above instructions in their respective 
Lodges, and that all members, and candidates for initiation here- 
after, subscribe to the O. B. N. herewith sent down from the 
Supreme Lodge; and that a correct list of all brothers and 
candidates so obligated shall be kept by the Recording Scribe of 
each Lodge as a matter of record and evidence. 

Given under my hand, with seal of Supreme Lodge attached, 
at Mount Holly, New Jersey, this 28th day of March, 1870, and 
the sixth year of the Order. 

[Seal.] Samuel Read, 

Supreme Chancellor. 
Attest: Clarence M. Barton, 

S. R. and C. S. 

It was in June, after the issuing of the foregoing order, 
that Supreme Chancellor Read suspended the Grand Chan- 
cellor of Pennsylvania from his office, and placed the 
Grand Vice Chancellor in charge of that Grand Juris- 
diction. 

It is unnecessary to go further into details of this storm 
that arose in the young Order. Certain it is that more 
kindly feeling came into the councils on both sides, and the 
troubles were healed and peace once more prevailed, and 
Supreme Chancellor Read, in his report to the Supreme 
Lodge in 1872, says: "It affords me great pleasure, as 
the executive officer, in making my report, to say peace 
prevails throughout the entire Jurisdiction. * * * 
As your executive officer, also, I am most happy in report- 
ing that the wisdom and magnanimity of your legislation 
at the last Supreme session was received and appreciated. 
Almost every discordant element has been removed ; the 
brethren accepting the olive branch extended by the supreme 
head of the Order have cheerfully acquiesced, believing 
your motives were actuated, not at the sacrifice of principle, 



260 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

but to retract any error that may have been committed or 
unwisely done." 

The last act in the drama was the action of the Supreme 
Lodge at the session of 1872, striking from the installation 
ceremonies the O. B. N., and with it went all traces of 
the great contest over the Conclaves, which had developed 
so much of bitterness and threatened the life of the Order. 
Most certainly it should be the wish of every member of 
our Order that never more shall clouds obscure our sky. 

TITLES CHANGED. 

The Knights of Pythias, in its first organization, was 
divided into Degrees, and so remained until this session of 
the Supreme Lodge, when the following resolution was 
presented and adopted : 

Whereas, The Order of Knights of Pythias, in their usages, cus- 
toms and traditions, are in a sense chivalric, and semi-military, and 

Whereas, For the purpose of making the terms, titles, prefixes 
and affixes thereto distinctive, to comport with, agree, and be in 
accordance with the chivalric name of " Knight/' and the customs, 
usages and traditions of the time when " Knighthood " was prevalent, 
as also the usages of this Order as now practiced, therefore be it 

Resolved, That the word "Degree" or " Degrees" be struck out 
wherever appearing in the ritual, laws, installations, or odes, or when 
used in connection with the Order of Knights of Pythias or its legis- 
lation and workings, and the word Rank be inserted in its or their 
place. 

GERMANY. 

At this session resolutions were presented for the estab- 
lishment of the Order in Germany, but this movement 
was very wisely decided not to be for the best interest of 
the Order. The opinion of the Supreme Lodge was, that 
it was unwise to undertake to establish the Order in any 
foreign country until "by careful deliberation and earnest 
preparation the Supreme Lodge would be assured that 
when once established its establishment would be per- 
manent." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 26 1 

Much having been said in regard to the establishment 
of the Order in foreign countries, it would be well for all 
future sessions of the Supreme Lodge to carefully weigh 
the question as to whether or not it would be best to give 
up all idea of foreign countries, and make it a distinctive 
American Order; at least not going beyond the countries 
in which it is now established. Let us perfect the Order 
at home, and make it the greatest benevolent society on 
this continent, in all that goes to make an Order great. 

NEW RITUAL. 

At this session a new or revised ritual for the work of 
the Subordinate Lodges was presented and adopted, intro- 
ducing therein an enlargement on the work of the Third 
Rank. Many propositions had been made from time to 
time for additional Ranks, higher Ranks, etc., but up to 
this time they had met a persistent refusal. Now, how- 
ever, there seems to have been a desire to compromise 
between the work of the Third Rank as it then existed, 
and the proposition for a more elaborate work in the 
form of a new or higher Rank, and this "compromise" 
sentiment settled upon what was then termed the ' 'Ampli- 
fied Third Rank," and by which name it has since been 
known, an enlargement of the work and ceremonies of 
conferring that Rank. The committee on unwritten work 
recommended its adoption, and the Supreme Lodge 
adopted their report, and directed that this "Amplified 
Third Rank" be printed with the other portions of the 
ritual. It was not intended, however, that this "Ampli- 
fied" work should become the only or absolute work of the 
Third Rank, to the exclusion of the regular Third Rank 
work. The "Amplified Third" was written and prepared 
by the Right-Reverend Bishop Ussher, of the Reformed 
Episcopal Church. Bishop Ussher has passed through the 
chairs of the Subordinate and Grand Lodges, and was 



262 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

elected and served one term as Supreme Representative of 
Illinois in the Supreme Lodge. He has been a resident 
of Montreal, Canada, now, for quite a number of years. 
In 1882 he was elected a Bishop of the Episcopal Church, 
and is a man of marked literary and scholastic ability. 

The work of the "Amplified" has grown into very 
great favor in many lodges, though there are large num- 
bers of the Order who prefer the regular work of the 
Third Rank. 

By resolution, the Supreme Lodge decided that on and 
after July 1, 1872, or as soon thereafter as possible, all of 
the old form of "Ritual of Ceremonial " then in use should 
be called in by the S. R. and C. S. through the proper 
Grand Officers of the various Grand Jurisdictions, and be 
replaced in the same sources by the form now adopted, 
and that all of the old rituals should be destroyed by the 
S. R. and C. S. The Supreme Lodge further decided and 
decreed that after thirty days from the date of issuance and 
promulgation, July 1, 1872, "the use of the said herein 
adopted, revised, corrected, altered, amplified and amended 
ritual, and appended work and lectures shall be obliga- 
tory, and the use of the present form become illegal in 
its use, under the pains and penalties of the law as made 
and provided by the Grand Lodges in whose various juris- 
dictions lodges may be situate, or of this Supreme Lodge 
of the K. of P. of the World."* Attention is called to the 
foregoing portion of the resolutions of the Supreme 
Lodge, for the reason that because of failure to comply 
with its terms by one of the Grand Jurisdictions, very 
serious trouble arose. 

By the adoption of this new ritual the titles of the 
officers of Subordinate Lodges were changed, and the 
officers were thereafter styled : 

* Page 657 of Supreme Lodge Proceedings, Session 1872. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 263 

Past Chancellor — title acquired by service, and after 
having passed through the executive office and chair of 
the lodge, and which title and rank should be held there- 
after. 

Chancellor Commander — the title of Commander, to be 
held and worn only while the principal and executive officer 
of the lodge. 

Vice Chancellor, 

Prelate, 

Master of Exchequer, 

Master of Finance, 

Keeper of Records and Seal, 

Master at Arms, 

Inner and Outer Guard. 

These titles have remained the same ever since. 

The duties and positions of these officers were also 
clearly defined, as was also the mode by which they were 
to acquire their titles, as now denned in the ritual of the 
Order. 

The adoption of the new and revised ritual was by far 
the most important work of this session. 

TRANSLATING THE RITUAL. 

So great and diversified in nationality are the citizens 
of this country, that early in the life of the Order the 
Supreme Lodge began to legislate so as to meet the wants 
and necessities of every class of our citizens, and at this 
session of the Supreme Lodge, authority was granted for 
translating the ritual into the French, German, Scandina- 
vian, and other tongues. This wise provision has been of 
immense benefit to the Order, and has enlisted into our 
ranks thousands of our best foreign born citizens. Aside 
from the mere fact of increasing the membership, as a 
patriotic movement on behalf of the Order it was a most 
excellent work, for the lessons taught in our ritual will 



264 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

make all these classes better citizens, and cause them to 
have a higher regard for, and greater devotion to, the 
country in which they live. 

This whole matter was, at the session of 1872, placed 
in the hands of the Supreme Chancellor, by resolution, 
and in this way these translations were brought about. 

The election of officers resulted as follows : Supreme 
Chancellor, H. C. Berry, of Illinois; Supreme Vice Chan- 
cellor, S. S. Davis, of New Hampshire; Supreme Record- 
ing Scribe, Clarence M. Barton, of the District of Co- 
lumbia ; Supreme Banker, William A. Potter, of Pennsyl- 
vania ; Supreme Guide, William B. Kennedy, of Ohio ; 
Supreme Inner Steward, Joseph D. Weeks, of Iowa ; Su- 
preme Outer Steward, Charles H. Hodgson, of West 
Virginia. 

So closed the fourth annual session, and the second 
term of Samuel Read as Supreme Chancellor, and here we 
deem it proper to give a short sketch of this distinguished 
Knight, who has now spent almost a quarter of a century 
in work for the Order. 

SAMUEL READ, 

The first Supreme Chancellor by actual service in the chair, 
was born in Mt. Holly, Burlington Co. , New Jersey, on 
January 26, 181 5, and still resides at the home where he 
was born. His grandfather, Joseph Read, and his father, 
Gen. Samuel I. Read, ranked with the most prominent 
members at the Bar of New Jersey. The former died in 
1814, aged 75 years; the latter in 1836, aged 65 years. 
Joseph was made a Mason about 1792, and his son about 
1794. They were very active members of the craft. 
Joseph was the first Worthy Master of Mt. Holly Lodge, 
No. 18. The warrant was dated A. L. 5803 [A. D. 1803], 
and he finally became R. W. D. Grand Master of New 
Jersey. Gen. Read was the first Junior Warden of the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 265 

same Lodge, and for several years the Worthy Master. He 
was, emphatically, an old-time gentleman, of sterling in- 
tegrity, fine personal appearance, and thorough in every- 
thing he undertook. He was highly honored by the craft as 
D. G. Secretary, G. J. Warden, G. S. Warden, R. W. D. 
Grand Master, and M. W. Grand Master of New Jersey. 

Samuel preferred some mechanical pursuit. In 1832-5 
he learned the trade of bricklayer, in Philadelphia, and 
afterwards followed that business in New York and Charles- 
ton. In 1843 ne was initiated an Odd Fellow, and with 
others was a petitioner for Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 19, 
I. O. O. F. That Lodge was instituted in March, 1843. 
He was installed first Noble Grand, elected Representative 
to Grand Lodge of New Jersey, and appointed Deputy for 
Burlington county. There was at that time but one Lodge 
in the State south of Trenton. In August, 1845, ne was 
reappointed, having charge of Burlington, Camden, Glou- 
cester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May coun- 
ties. He was Grand Master of New Jersey in 1845 and 
'46. In 1848, '49, '50, '68 and '69, he was Representative 
in the Grand Lodge of the United States from the Grand 
Lodge and Grand Encampment of New Jersey. In 1887 
he was the senior Past Grand Master of New Jersey living. 

He was made a Mason in 1848, in Tuckerton, No. 4 
(going forty miles for that purpose). Demitted and be- 
came a member of Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M. 
In 1850 he was Worshipful Master, and in 1886 the senior 
Worthy Master, under the old warrant, living. 

He was initiated a Knight of Pythias on the 12th of 
December, 1867. New Jersey Lodge, No. 1, and Damon 
Lodge, No. 2, were instituted on the same date at Cam- 
den, some twenty gentlemen going from Mt. Holly for 
that purpose. It so happened that Samuel Read was the 
first person initiated a Knight of Pythias in New Jersey 
(some few gentlemen had been initiated in Philadelphia). 



266 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

He was installed the first Chancellor Commander of New 
Jersey Lodge, No. I, by Grand Chancellor W. P. West- 
wood, who instituted said Lodges. 

Brother Read being appointed Deputy Grand Chan- 
cellor, he took a lively interest in the work. On the 16th 
of March, 1868, there being seven flourishing Lodges in 
the State, Grand Chancellor Westwood organized the 
Grand Lodge of New Jersey, making the third Grand 
Lodge of the Order. Samuel Read was unanimously 
elected and installed the first Grand Chancellor of New 
Jersey. 

The part taken by Brother Read in the organization of 
the Supreme Lodge, and his work therein, has been shown 
in the preceding pages. With only five Grand Jurisdic- 
tions when he entered upon his duties as Supreme Chan- 
cellor, he, by persistent work, turned over to his successor 
after only four years' work, twenty-eight Grand Jurisdic- 
tions, with a membership of 78, 297. Supreme Chancellor 
Read organized most of these Grand Jurisdictions in per- 
son. His task was an arduous one, and yet, whether by 
day or by night, when duty called, he answered the sum- 
mons cheerfully. His whole heart was in the work in 
which he was engaged. He has ever been a fearless man 
in every discharge of duty. He is still an attendant on the 
sessions of the Supreme Lodge and of his own Grand Lodge 
when his health will permit, and though he has passed the 
three score and ten years allotted to men, he is of pleasant 
disposition, and his kindly greetings are a delight to his 
brethren of the Order. He sees and enjoys the glorious 
present of the Order he strove so earnestly and success- 
fully to establish, as its first Supreme Chancellor, and his 
closing words on retiring from the office, ' ' You shall see 
yet greater advancement and usefulness in this beautiful 
Order of Pythian Brotherhood," seem to have been pro- 
phetic words that have been fully fulfilled in our sight. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



267 



CHAPTER X. 



An Interview with the Founder — The School-boy — The School-mas- 
ter — In Michigan — Writing the Ritual — Establishing the Order — 
The Conclave — Return to the Supreme Lodge — Survivors. 




IN Washington some time since, and 
having a little spare time at his dis- 
posal, the writer called on the Founder of 
the Order, and gathered from him some of 
his personal history, and also some of the 
earlier history of the Order. By the cour- 
tesy of Gen. Drum, Adjutant General of 
the U. S. Army, Brother Rathbone was 
granted a leave of absence for the day from 
the War Department, and the time was 
spent in a review of the early days of the 
Knights of Pythias. Much of the conversation, of course, 
was concerning the early secret work of the Order, which 
could not be published to the public, but it was intensely 
interesting to the few Knights who were present. The 
writer took upon himself the character of an ' ' Inter- 
viewer," and believing that it would please the member- 
ship to know such portions of the interview as may 
properly be published, it is given in this chapter. The 
conversation began thus : 

Brother Rathbone, I should like to ask you a few questions 
in regard to yourself and the Order of Knights of Pythias, which 
you have the credit of founding. 

To this Brother Rathbone replied : I will answer cheerfully 
such questions as come within the scope of my knowledge, and 
are proper for me to answer- 



268 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Is the biographical sketch of yourself, which was presented 
to the Supreme Lodge in 1876, correct? 

Yes, in the main it is. The statements in regard to my birth 
and parentage there made are entirely correct. 

What of your education ? 

My first school-days as a boy were passed in the private pri- 
mary schools taught by Miss Ingalls and James Lumbard, in the 
basement of the old Dutch Reformed Church, on the corner 
of John and Broad streets, Utica, N. Y., my native city. After 
that I passed through the various courses of instruction at the 
Pearl St. Academy, Mount Vernon Boarding School at Vernon, 
Courtland Academy, Carlisle Seminary, Schoharie Co., and 
finally at Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y. 

Having completed your studies, what then ? 

In the autumn .of 1857, being in poor health, upon the advice 
of our old family physician, Dr. McCall, of Utica, I went to the 
upper Peninsula, Michigan, and after arriving there was engaged 
to teach the school at the Central Copper Mine, near Eagle Harbor. 

What of the town and your school? 

There was not much of a town, simply a mining settlement. 
My school-room was in the second story of the old stamp house, 
and my scholars consisted of the sons and daughters of the 
miners, mostly of Cornish descent. In addition to my duties 
as teacher, I also, at times, assisted the clerk in charge of the 
mine. 

Was all of your life in that State spent at Central Mine ? 

No. I received a call to take charge of the school at the 
North-west Mine, where I remained during one term, and was 
then given charge of the school at Eagle Harbor. 

What of the society you found there ? 

There was very little society. A few congenial spirits among 
the clerks of the Copper Falls, North-west, Central and Amigda- 
loid mines, and also a few young men engaged in the several 
stores at the Harbor, completed the list of my associates and the 
society of that locality. 

How did you spend your time when not in the school-room ? 

My evenings were generally spent in reading and study, but 
it was our custom in those days for each of us to assemble on 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 269 

Friday evenings at Bowden's Hotel, and remain until Monday 
mornings. About the only regular amusement we had was our 
annual ball. This was looked forward to with a great deal of 
pleasure. Yet this ball was attended with no little difficulty, the 
greatest of which was to secure the attendance of young ladies, 
owing to the sparseness of the settlements. It was necessary, in 
some instances, for the participants to ride not unfrequently fifty 
miles in order to procure a partner for the occasion. One of 
these balls was given each winter. 

Only the one ball a year must have been very little amuse- 
ment — could you devise no other means for passing your 
evenings ? 

Yes, we did finally. While teaching the school at Eagle 
Harbor I had a conversation with a few friends, and discussed 
the feasibility of forming a dramatic society for the purpose 
of whiling away the long winter evenings. We organized what 
we termed the " Stevens Dramatic Association," named in honor 
of Mr. Wm. H. Stevens, a prominent citizen of Copper Falls. 
He, in acknowledgment of the high coiJipliment which we had paid 
him, gave us the free use of the upper story of his building at the 
Harbor, and aided us in fitting it up with scenery, etc. I was 
elected stage manager of the Association, and in addition to my 
official position, also took part in the presentation of the dramas. 

What was the style or character of the plays that were pre- 
sented by your Association ? 

The selection was left to me as the stage manager, and 
I was directed to correspond with the publishing house of 
S. French and Son, of New York City, and secure the best 
plays possible for our stage. In writing to the publishers 
I requested them to select such works as contained the fewest 
possible female characters, as there were no ladies in the vicinity 
whom we could call to our assistance, and we were obliged to 
utilize a few beardless boys for the female parts. Among 
the plays sent to us was the well-known and popular drama 
by John Banim, "Damon and Pythias." I had previously seen 
this play rendered on several different occasions by such actors as 
the late John R. Scott, John J. Neafie, Edwin Forest, and others, 



27O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

and was especially delighted at receiving it, as it was a great 
favorite with me. 

I suppose it was the careful study of this play that first sug- 
gested to you the idea of the Order of Knights of Pythias, or had 
you thought of it before — you say you had long been an admirer 
of this play? 

Yes, this play suggested it to my mind, though I had not 
thought of it before that winter. The idea presented itself to me 
one day while reading over the play at the school-house. It 
then occurred to me that there was an excellent foundation 
in the story of Damon and Pythias for a fraternal secret 
society. The high type of friendship therein portrayed seemed 
to me to be the basis upon which such a society could and should 
be established. 

Were you at that time a member of any secret society ? 

I was not, and knew nothing of the ritualistic work or cere- 
monies of any of the secret societies. I was too young to 
become a member of any of the standard organizations. 

Did you at once go to work in the matter ? 

Yes. Suiting the action to the word I commenced the prep- 
aration of a ritual, naming the prospective Order ' ' The Knights 
of Pythias." 

When was this — what year ? 

This was in the autumn of 1858, or spring of 1859, and 
I worked on it until I completed the first ritual of ' ' The Knights 
of Pythias." 

What was the original plan of the ritual ? 

I divided the work into three parts or degrees, naming them 
the Initiatory, First, and Second Degrees, now termed the First, 
Second, and Third Ranks. 

Why did you give Pythias, instead of Damon, the character 
of the hostage in the plan of the ritual ? 

I followed the plot as presented in Banim's drama of Damon 
and Pythias. I took that as my text, my guide, my inspiration. 

Had you ever read the history given of the two friends, 
Damon and Pythias, by the old Roman and Grecian authors 
before you prepared your ritual ? 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 27 1 

No, I knew nothing about them until afterward. Banim 
changes the position of those two worthies from the historic 
record, but does not change the character of their friendship, 
which is the vital part of their lives in both accounts, the historic 
and the poetic. 

After writing this ritual, did you take any immediate steps 
toward establishing the Knights of Pythias ? 

No, I made no effort whatever to establish the Order in 
Michigan. I did not even read the ritual to any one, or inform 
any person that I had prepared such a work. I simply folded 
the manuscript after I had finished it, put it away, and in fact 
almost forgot that I had it. 

You are now a member of a number of secret societies — when 
did you first become a fraternity man ? 

Shortly after I finished writing the K. of P. ritual I took 
charge of the school at Eagle River, about nine miles distant 
from Eagle Harbor. It was while at Eagle River that I joined 
the first secret society with which I was ever connected, being 
at that time only twenty years of age. This society was the 
short-lived but very popular organization known as the * ' Sons 
of Malta." Mr. S. C. Benjamin, now of the Pension Office, 
Washington, D. C, and myself were instructed in its wonderful 
mysteries by two gentlemen from Cleveland, Ohio, who were 
temporarily sojourning with us. We formed a Sons of Malta 
lodge and called it "Minne ha-ha." I took great interest in this 
organization, and soon after formed a second lodge at Eagle 
Harbor and called it "Z# awatha." 

After this, what about your secret society relations? 

Just after I became of age, I had arranged to go to Onta- 
nagon, about eighty miles farther up the lake, to join the Masons 
at that point. My father's death, however, which occurred May 
21, 1 86 1, prevented my joining the Masons at that time, and 
other matters changed my entire plans. 

In what way were your plans changed? 

I refer more especially to the war, which had just previously 
broken out; my attempt to get into the army in a Michigan regi- 
ment; the failure in that direction; my subsequent going to Phila- 
delphia.; entering the service of the United States, and finally 



272 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

being sent to Washington, all of which is contained in the brief 
biographical sketch of myself, written by Mrs. Leonard, of this 
city (Washington), which accompanied the photograph picture of 
the four original members of the Order and myself, and was pre- 
sented to the Supreme Lodge in 1876, and to which you can 
refer. * 

Before you organized the Knights of Pythias, did you con- 
nect yourself with any other society than the Sons of Malta? 

Yes; while in the hospital service at Philadelphia, I was 
made a Mason, and also joined a Tribe of Red Men in German- 
town, Pa. 

To whom did you first communicate the fact that you had 
written the Knights of Pythias ritual ? 

To Mr. R. A. Champion, while I was at the U. S. hospital 
at Germantown, he being the Chief Steward of the hospital. He 
thought well of it, and said when the proper time should arrive, 
we would try and organize a lodge. Shortly after this I was 
ordered to Washington, and succeeded in having Mr. Champion 
transferred there also, and we both were assigned to duty in the 
same office. I should state that Champion and I had joined the 
Masons and Red Men together. The further principal facts of 
my connection with Champion in organizing the Order, have 
already been given in the "Sketch," presented to the Supreme 
Lodge in 1876. f 

Did you alter or amend the ritual as originally written, before 
you instituted the Knights of Pythias, February 19, 1864? 

No, I used the original manuscript just as I had written it. 

Give a statement of the real facts in regard to how J. T. K. 
Plant, for whom a claim was afterward made as the Founder of 
the Knights of Pythias, came into the Order? 

Shortly after Brother Champion and I located in Washington, 
we chanced to be walking along the street one evening when our 
attention was attracted to a poster announcing an approaching 
ball to be given by a Tribe of Red Men. Not before knowing 
that the Order existed in the city we immediately made inquiry 
and found that a Tribe met on a certain night at Temperance 

* See Chapter V. t In Chapter V. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 2/3 

Hall on E street, between 9th and 10th. On the evening of 
the meeting we presented ourselves, and were duly examined and 
admitted, and found an initiation in progress. It was at this 
meeting that I .first met J. T. K. Plant. He was acting as, or 
held the office of, Prophet during the initiation, and- 1 was much 
pleased with his work. On the Wednesday morning following; 
the memorable meeting of Monday night, February 15, 1864, 
when I read the entire ritual to Messrs. Champion, Kimball, 
D. L. and W. H. Burnett, each of whom I had obligated, and 
with whom I had agreed that none but clerks in the departments 
should be invited to aid in forming the first Lodge, while on our 
way to the office I suggested to Brother Champion that we call 
on Plant and ask him if he would like to take hold of the K. of 
P. , as I wanted him to fill the office of Venerable Patriarch, the 
third official position in the Lodge. Brother Champion expost- 
ulated with me, saying that the agreement was that none but 
clerks in the departments were to be invited to join. I admitted 
that this had been the understanding, but I said: "We will 
make this one exception if he will go with us." Finally he 
consented to it, and went with me to call on Plant. When we 
had stated our errand to him, I asked him this question : ' ' Do 
you think another secret order will be successful?" His reply 
was : "There is always room for one more." I then invited him 
to be present on Friday night, when we were to institute, and he 
accepted the invitation. Aside from Champion, no one else 
knew of Plant having been invited, nor did any of the members 
have any acquaintance with him until after he came to the 
meeting. I remember very distinctly the curious and enquiring 
looks he received when he entered. I was approached on all 
sides to know what department he was in. I stated he was not 
a clerk ; that I had made his case the one exception as I wanted 
him for a particular office, and they all, of course, respected 
my wishes in the matter. To more thoroughly introduce him to 
those present, I called him to the chair. I then and there obli- 
gated those present on a small Bible which had been given me 
by my mother. This Bible is now in the possession of the Su- 
preme Lodge, having been presented by me to that body in 1876. 
We then and there organized Washington Lodge, No. i, the his- 



274 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

tory of which is a matter of record. The first introduction to 
or knowledge that J. T. K. Plant had of the Knights of Pythias 
was on the night we instituted Washington Lodge, and he came 
by my invitation. 

Are there any special incidents that might be of interest to 
the Order now, connected with the founding and establishment 
of Washington Lodge ? 

There are doubtless very many that might be of interest, 
especially the several amusing and interesting matters that oc- 
curred, but it is difficult to tell just where to begin such a narration. 

Suppose you commence at the beginning. Of course you 
had no paraphernalia — how did you get it ? 

Well, I can tell about that. Most of the members of Wash- 
ington Lodge were in the regular army, and had been detailed 
for duty in their respective positions in the Departments. Just 
about this time, 1864, it was discovered by certain gentlemen 
representing New Jersey that none of us had been credited 
to any particular State, and they were desirous of having as 
many as possible credited to their quota. Our names were 
given to them, and we were each invited to appear and receive 
as a gentle token of regard from the State of New Jersey the sum 
of three hundred and fifty dollars, as bounty. As we were already 
in the service, duly enlisted and mustered, and were not especially 
caring to what State we were credited, we accepted this token 
of liberality. It was this money which we received as bounty 
that purchased the original paraphernalia of Washington Lodge, 
No. 1, and fitted out the Castle Hall. Having been elected 
Worthy Chancellor, it became my duty to appoint committees to 
purchase the outfit, properties, etc. I selected these committees, 
directed them what to purchase, and also ordered them to bring 
in receipted bills, which instructions were obeyed, each committee 
paying for its purchases. Of course there are many things con- 
nected with the preparation of some portions of the outfit that 
would not be proper for publication.* 

*Some of these incidents were related in private conversation, and 
were exceedingly interesting. A lecture on the early secret history of the 
Order, by Brother Rathbone, to be delivered only to members of the 
Order, would be one of the deepest interest. — Author. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 275 

You have not been continuously a member of the Order. How 
long did you remain a member of the Order originally ? 

Up to the 25th of March, 1864, when I withdrew. 

What brought about this severance of your connection with 
the Order. 

Dissatisfaction at the action of a party whom I placed in the 
Order. By the way, the records show that I left the Order April 
21, 1864. This is a mistake; the actual date is March 25, 1864. 

To what action do you refer ? Was it personal, or did it relate 
to the Order ? 

To the Order. My attention was directed by Brother A. D. 
Vanderveer to an advertisement which appeared in an evening 
paper published in Washington at that time, called The Consti- 
tutional Union, which requested the attendance of all the Past 
Chancellors, Representatives, etc., of the several lodges of 
Knights of Pythias, at the house of a brother of the Order, for 
the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of 
District of Columbia, and signed by this brother as Grand Chan- 
cellor. Upon reading the notice, which provoked a smile, 
I remarked to Brother Vanderveer that I looked upon it as an 
advertisement, simply to give the world an idea that we had 
progressed in a very few weeks far enough to form a Grand 
Lodge. There was at that time only 07ie lodge in existence, con- 
sisting of about thirty-five or forty members; there were no Rep- 
resentatives, no Past Chancellors, and the office of Grand Chancellor 
had never been created. Brother Vanderveer and myself called at 
this brother's house, and found that it was his intention to organize 
a Grand Lodge, and that he claimed to be the Grand Chancellor 
by reason of having been elected Venerable Patriarch of the only 
lodge in existence. I asked him by what right he claimed the office 
of Grand Chancellor; his reply was, by having served a full 
term, or unexpired portion of a term, as Venerable Patriarch. 
Our officers were at that time elected for three months. He 
stated that the duties he performed in the office of Venerable 
Patriarch were such as were assigned to Past officers in other 
orders with which he was connected, and by virtue of that fact 
he claimed to be the first Past Chancellor of Washington Lodge. 
I hinted to him that this was not another order, and that the office 



276 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

to which he was elected was the third in the Lodge. His reply 
was, that it made no difference what my ideas were ; he intended 
to be the Grand Chancellor of the Order. Finding that there would 
be trouble ahead, I determined to withdraw, and did so at the 
following meeting, March 25, 1864. There was nothing out 
of which to form a Grand Lodge, unless one lodge could be 
Subordinate and Grand Lodge at one and the same time. 

After you had withdrawn, did he go ahead and carry out his 
intentions ? 

Yes. As to his subsequent action, the organization of a so- 
called Grand Lodge, the institution of other Lodges up to the 
time, April 30, 1866, instead of April 30, 1865, as printed in the 
reports, when I returned to the organization, is a matter of record 
and history. 

How many lodges were there in existence at the time you 
returned to the Order, April 30, 1866 ? 

There was but one; Franklin Lodge, No. 2, and this lodge 
had not held a meeting for a very long time previous. 

What induced you to go back into the Order ? 

I came back at the personal request of the present Past 
Supreme Chancellor Edward Dunn. 

Did you at once begin active work for the Order upon re- 
turning ? 

Yes. Immediately upon my return to the Order it was repre- 
sented to me that the ritual in use needed revision. A com- 
mittee was appointed for that purpose, of which I was chair- 
man. The matter was placed in my hands. I revised, or 
re-wrote the ritual entire; presented it to the committee, and 
they presented it to the lodge, and it was accepted. This ritual 
remained the ritual of the Order until it was changed by the 
Supreme Lodge some years afterward. 

State what you did, if anything, towards advancing the growth 
of the Order outside of the District of Columbia. 

I used my best endeavors to aid in its establishment in other 
localities, as well as in the mother jurisdiction. I was present 
at the formation of the first lodge in the city of Philadelphia ; 
took part in the instituting of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 5, 
Liberty Lodge, No. 6, and Webster Lodge, No. 7, in the Dis- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 277 

trict of Columbia, and lodges in other jurisdictions. I assisted 
also in instituting the Grand Lodge of Delaware, aided in per- 
fecting the plans for the organization of the Supreme Lodge, 
and wrote its ritual. 

When and under what circumstances was the branch of the 
Order known as the Conclaves, or S. P. K., instituted? 

The Conclave was instituted by and under authority of the 
Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, then known and 
acting as the Provisional Supreme Lodge, K. of P. I had been 
persistently urged for six months previous to prepare a ritual 
for a higher branch of the Order. I at that time expostulated 
with those who were urging the matter, giving as my reason 
for opposing it, that I did not believe the Order was old 
enough or strong enough to make such a venture successful. I 
finally acquiesced in the matter and prepared the ritual. I was 
occupied several months in its preparation, and, to have it 
properly brought before the Order, asked permission of the 
Grand Lodge (the Provisional Supreme Lodge) at its quarterly 
session, June 9, 1868, to organize a higher branch of the Order. 
Then and there the following resolution, which is of record, and 
found upon page 99 of the Journal of proceedings of the Grand 
Lodge of the District of Columbia, was offered by Past Grand 
Chancellor Clarence M. Barton, who was afterward the Supreme 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe of the Supreme Lodge, 
which now corresponds to the present office of Supreme Keeper 
of Records and Seal. 

Resolved, That notwithstanding any law or order to the contrary, 
power and privilege is hereby granted to the Founder of the Order to 
create and establish a higher degree or degrees, that shall in nowise 
interfere with the ritual of the Order, to be entirely different therefrom, 
and to have its own Grand Lodge, Supreme Lodge, etc. 

The records do not show that this resolution was adopted, but 
it is a matter within the memory of living members of the 
Order that it was adopted by a unanimous vote, with the excep- 
tion of one dissenting voice, that of the then Past Chancellor, 
John W. Thompson, now P. G. C, and :'ci many years Supreme 
Outer Guard of the Supreme Lode?, v v no stated that his only 
opposition was based upon the fac . . lat he did not believe the 



278 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Order was strong enough to admit of a successful introduction 
of another degree or branch. * 

Brother Rathbone, was there anything in the ritual and form 
of government of the higher degree or degrees that you had 
prepared that did in anywise interfere with the ritual of the 
Order as it then existed ? 

No, there was not. It was distinct and separate from the 
ritual of the Order, but was in harmony with it. The prerequisite 
for membership in this new degree was membership and good 
standing in a lodge of Knights of Pythias. 

Was this new or higher degree the sa'me that afterward was 
known as the Conclave, or S. P. K. ? 

It was. 

What was the actual intent of this higher degree ? 

It was to act as a kind of sieve. In the Order, growing, as it 
then was, very rapidly, we were unavoidably accepting some bad 
material, and it was intended to make the membership of the 
Conclave select. In my explanation of the matter, as reported 
in the S. L. Journal, an injustice has been done me in this, that 
I have been represented as stating that the degree of S. P. K. 
held the same relationship to the Subordinate Lodge of K. of P. 
as did the Encampment to the Odd Fellows lodge. Whether this 
was intentional or not I cannot say. I will simply say that at the 
request of the Representatives, I stated that the S. P. K. , when 
organized, would bear the same relationship to the Order of 
K. of P. as did the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons to the Blue 
Lodge, and, as I had understood, the Encampment did to the lodge 
of Odd Fellows. I was at that time a Royal Arch Mason in 
good standing. I never have been connected with the Encamp- 
ment of the Odd Fellows, nor did I, until some months afterward, 

* In a conversation with Brother John W. Thompson, he stated most 
emphatically that the resolution here referred to was passed by the affirm- 
ative vote of every member of the Grand Lodge excepting his. That 
he objected to its adoption, not because he did not believe it to be a good 
thing, but because he did not think the time had yet come for it, as the 
Order was not strong enough. He further stated that when he made 
the objection, Clarence M. Barton replied, "The time has come; we want 
it now, and we must have it," besides other remarks in favor of the adop- 
tion of the resolution. — Author. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 279 

know the relationship that existed between the I. O. O. F. and 
the Encampment. What I intended to have the Representatives 
understand was that it was to be a distinct and different organi- 
zation from the former ranks or degrees, and the only relationship 
which it had or was to bear to the Order of K. of P. , was that 
we proposed to select its members from the Subordinate Lodges. 

Was it in any way to be in opposition to, or in competition with, 
the Order of K. of P. ? 

No, not in the least. The design was to benefit the K. of P. 
On account of the carelessness in admitting members, to which 
I have referred, the best friends of the Order at that time 
believed that greater care should be practiced, and it was intended 
that the S. P. K. should accept for membership only such 
Knights of Pythias, in the S. P. K., as we believed to be 
true men, and at the same time the S. P. K.'s would exercise, 
so far as was in their power, a fostering care over every lodge 
of the K. of P. , with which its members were connected. 

When and where was the first Conclave established, and who 
composed its membership ? 

Damon Conclave, No. 1, of the Order of S. P. K., was 
organized July 17, 1868. This was prior to the organization of 
the Supreme Lodge, and was authorized by the Provisional 
Supreme Lodge, the highest body known to the Order at that 
time. Among those present at the organization were all of the 
original members of the K. of P., except Dr. Kimball. There 
were present Wm. P. Westwood, then Supreme Chancellor of 
the Provisional Supreme Lodge, W. H. Burnett, David L. Bur- 
nett, Joseph Lawrence, T. Harry Donehue, Richard Lawson, 
J. T. Evely, Alonzo D. Shaw, and myself. Brothers Robert 
Champion and Clarence M. Barton I had previously obli- 
gated, but they were unable to be present at the first meet- 
ing They were present, however, at the next and following 
meetings, Brother Champion retaining his membership in the 
Conclave up to the date of his death. 

At the time of the formation of the Supreme Lodge how 
many Conclaves were in existence? 

Only one; Damon Conclave, No. i, in Washington. 

Had there been any attempt to institute more ? 



280 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Yes, one more. On the 18th of August, 1868, an applica- 
tion for a Conclave, to be known as Barton Conclave, No. 2, 
signed by thirteen applicants, all members of K. of P., with. 
$20.00 charter fee, was received. This application was pre- 
sented by Clarence M. Barton in person. The charter was riot 
granted, and Barton was informed that Damon Conclave had 
no power to grant the charter, not yet having formulated its 
Constitution. 

Was there any other reason why the charter was not granted 
for Barton Conclave ? 

Yes. One of the rules of the S. P. K. was, that if a person 
should once be rejected for membership, he was forever ineligi- 
ble. This application for Barton Conclave contained the names 
of thirteen members of the K. of P., some of them occupying 
prominent positions in the Order, and who, at a previous meet- 
ing of Damon Conclave, had been declared forever ineligible 
to the degree of S. P. K When Barton was informed that the 
charter was denied for Barton Conclave, he left the room vowing 
vengeance against the Conclave, and right here is where the 
trouble began that afterward came so near disrupting the Order 
of K. of P. 

I wish you would now give the full history of the Conclave 
matter from first to last. 

I must respectfully, though emphatically, decline to enter 
into any further discussion of this subject. There are others 
who were members of the Conclave, and are yet members of the 
K. of P. , who, I have no doubt, would willingly answer all 
questions you may ask, and they are thoroughly equipped to 
do so, and, if it were necessary, to furnish data and details, for 
the full records are yet in existence. 

Before leaving this subject let me ask you a few questions 
which will take you back somewhat over the ground already 
traversed. At the original organization was Clarence M. Barton 
one of the parties asking and requesting that a Conclave be 
established ? 

Yes. It was at his earnest entreaty and most persistent 
demand that I consented to prepare the ritual and organize the 
S. P. K., and you notice that he offered the resolution in the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 28 1 

Grand Lodge giving me the authority to institute it, and when 
brother Thompson urged that the time had not yet come, he 
replied : ' - The time has already come, and we need it now, and 
there should be no further delay." 

How did the matter get into the Supreme Lodge — I mean as 
a cause of trouble ? 

That is a matter of record which you will find in the Supreme 
Lodge Journal. * 

What was the real reason of the opposition to the Order of 
S. P. K. in the Supreme Lodge ? 

It is very natural to suppose that it was based on the refusal 
to grant the charter for Barton Conclave, No. 2, as men on that 
application being in the Supreme Lodge, were personally bitter 
against the Conclave. 

You were present at the Supreme Lodge session at Richmond 
in 1869; you cannot certainly object to giving some account of 
matters of the S. P. K. at that session, for it must have been 
a very interesting affair. 

I do not know that I can state much that does not appear in 
the Journal of the Supreme Lodge. When we met in the 
Supreme Lodge, we found there were two factions, the 
members of the S. P. K. forming one, and the anti-S. P. K.'s 
the other, the first named being very much in the minority. The 
opposition, with the exception of Barton, knew nothing as to 
what the real tenets of the Conclave were, and they received 
their information wholly from expelled members, which could 
not have been very favorable to us. A committee of conference 
was, appointed, as you know from the record, and they decided 
that the rituals of the S. P. K. should be laid on the altar of the 
Supreme Lodge, and the work exemplified in order to show to 
the Supreme Lodge that there was nothing in it inimical to that 
body or to the Order of K. of P. After the ritual had been 
read and exemplified, members of the opposition came across 
the floor to me and congratulated me upon the work and the 
ritual. One member went so far as to say it was the most 

* Pages 27 and 29, S. L. Journal, Session 1868, and also preceding 
chapter of this book. 



282 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

beautiful thing he had ever heard, equal to the ritual of the 
Royal Purple Degree of Odd Fellows, and added : " It is just 
exactly what we want, and we will have it." Just here the gavel 
of the Supreme Chancellor sounded and that officer adjourned 
the Lodge. The final result of the affair at Richmond you have 
in the records. * 

What became of the Conclave, or S. P. K.? 

Immediately upon the disapproval of the Supreme Lodge, 
the S. P. K. was disconnected from the Order of Knights of 
Pythias, and established as an independent Order, and yet exists, 
some of its members being active, earnest members of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias to-day. 

Now I should like to know something more of your personal 
history. After the session of the Supreme Lodge at Richmond, 
what did you do personally and as a K. of P.? 

Soon after that session I was relieved from duty at the 
Treasury department, and was compelled to take up with 
whatever work I could get to support my family. I first secured 
a position as pianist and vocalist for the London Diorama, 
then exhibiting at Washington, D. C. ; remained in Washington 
three days, and went with the company to Baltimore. Leav- 
ing the Diorama at Baltimore, I went to Boston and obtained a 
position in Mr. Stetson's publishing house. At that time I with- 
drew from all connection with the K. of P. and S. P. K., 
having stated my intention to do so at the Supreme Lodge ses- 
sion in Richmond ; and further, that I would remain without the 
portals of the Order so long as a certain prominent officer had 
connection with it, and I did not return until his membership 
terminated. 

How long did you remain out of the Order ? 

From June, 1869, until some time in 1874, between five and 
six years. 

When you came back into the Order, with what Lodge did 
you connect yourself? 

Calanthe Lodge, No. 11, District of Columbia. 

*See pages 254, 255, and 256 of this book. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 283 

How did you come into the Order at that time — by card or 
on application ? 

I should have stated that I deposited my card in Maverick 
Lodge in East Boston, but met with them only two nights, when 
I applied to that lodge for a card which was granted, and I 
deposited it in Calanthe Lodge above named. 

Have you remained a member of that lodge ever since ? 

No, sir; I withdrew from that lodge and joined Mount Vernon 
Lodge ; then, having removed to Maryland some time after, and 
being unable to visit the city at night, I organized a lodge, 
Sicilian, No. 97, at Bowie, in Prince George County, Md., with- 
in five miles of my home, which I attended regularly and finally 
joined by card. I still hold membership in that lodge, and 
attend as often as I can. 

After the Richmond session in 1869, when did you again 
return to the Supreme Lodge ? 

At the centennial session, in 1876, at Philadelphia, Pa. 

Was there any opposition to your return into the Supreme 
Lodge ? 

There was; and, as I have been informed by those who were 
present within the room, an almost unanimous feeling that 
I should not be admitted. 

In what capacity did you return to the Supreme Lodge ? 

As a Past Supreme Chancellor and a member in good stand- 
ing in my Subordinate Lodge in the District of Columbia. 

What was the objection? 

It came first from the Committee on Credentials, as there was 
nothing to show that I was a member in good standing in the 
Order, except a communication from the Vice Grand Chancel- 
lor, acting as Grand Chancellor of the District of Columbia. * 

* The following was the communication referred to : 

Grand Jurisdiction K. of P., 

District of Columbia. 
This is to certify that Past Supreme Chancellor J. H. Rathbone is in 
good standing in Calanthe Lodge, No. 11, K. of P., of the District of 
Columbia, and is hereby commended to all true Knights. He is also in 
good standing in the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. 
August 22, 1876. XIII. Geo. Lewis Eberly, 

Vice Grand Chancellor 
[S. L. Reports, page H94.] and Acting Grand Chancellor. 



284 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The information was telegraphed for, and they refused to receive 
me on a telegram. A strong speech was made in my behalf by 
J. Rufus Smith, S. R., from W. Va., and permission was finally 
given for me to enter. Immediately upon my entrance Supreme 
Representatives Foxwell and Caldwell, of the District of Colum- 
bia, presented to the Supreme Lodge a picture of the Founder 
and the four original members, and a small pamphlet, giving the 
history of the Order and a brief biographical sketch of the 
original members.* Objection to its reception was immediately 
interposed. A motion was then made that a committee of 
three be appointed to look into the matter, and ascertain, if pos- 
sible, if the statements contained in the papers presented were 
the facts, and if I really was the Founder of the Order. The 
committee was appointed and consisted of three members known 
at that time to be, perhaps, the most inimical to the man to be 
investigated, of any in the Supreme Lodge. The committee 
met, were shown the original affidavit, together with the ' ' Sketch " 
which had been presented to the Supreme Lodge. Brother 
J. T. K. Plant being in the city, was sent for by the committee 
and appeared on the scene. He there saw for the first time the 
documents, and immediately, without any hesitation, stated that 
the contents were true to the best of his knowledge and belief, 
and that he would go further, and, if necessary, announce the 
fact on the floor of the Supreme Lodge. He further stated that 
he had never claimed to be the Founder or Assistant Founder, 
and did not hold himself responsible for what others had claimed 
for him. After reading the documents, the question was asked 
by the Chairman : ' ' Brother Plant, your name is mentioned in 
this; what have you to say?" "Simply and only," was his reply, 
' ' that it is correct in every particular. That man [pointing 
to me] is the sole and only Founder of the Knights of Pythias, 
and, if necessary, I will go into the Supreme Lodge and announce 
it. I never claimed that I was the Founder; the claim was 
made for me, but I never fathered it." The committee returned 
and made their report to the Supreme Lodge, which, in brief, 
was that they found the ' ' History as to the Founder of the 

* Published in Chapter V, herein. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE, 



285 



Order of Knights of Pythias" correct, and that I was entitled 
to the honor of being the Founder of the Order. A recess was 
taken for a few minutes and I was warmly congratulated and 
greeted by the officers and representatives. 

What has become of the original members of the Order ? 

Robert Allen Champion died in the city of Edinburg, Scot- 
land, September 25, 1873. David L. Burnett is at present 
occupying a prominent position in the Sixth Auditor's Office. 
Wm. H. Burnett still retains the position that he has held for 
years in the Quartermaster-General's Office. Dr. E. S. Kimball 
is engaged in the profession of music, and justly considered our 
leading musician ; and all reside in Washington, D. C. I am in 
the Adjutant-General's Office, but reside at present in Alexan- 
dria, Va. 

Are the living ones yet connected with the Order? 

They are not; and it has been the one great desire of my 
life that they should be; they ought, in my opinion, to be recog- 
nized and made life members of the Order, for it was through 
the assistance rendered me by them that the Order was organ- 
ized. Their time and money were cheerfully and unstintedly 
given to the work, and you will pardon me if I here state that 
I believe them to have been most shamefully -treated from the 
first. 



286 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Supreme Lodge Sessions 1 873-1 874 — Administration of H. C. Berry 
as Supreme Chancellor — Growth of the Order — Barton Defalca- 
tion — Financial Embarrassment of the Supreme Lodge — Expul- 
sion of Barton — Troubles in Pennsylvania — Amended Supreme 
Lodge Constitution — Titles of Supreme Lodge Officers Changed — 
Establishing the Order in Europe — Britannia Lodge, No. 1, of 
London, England — Henry Clay Berry, P. S. C. 

FIFTH annual session of the Su- 
preme Lodge convened at Rich- 
mond, Va., on Tuesday, April 
15, 1873, with Representatives from a 
majority of the Grand Jurisdictions pres- 
ent at the opening of the session. This 
was the first session over which Henry 
Clay Berry presided as Supreme Chancellor, and his 
report, and that of the Supreme Recorder and Corre- 
sponding Scribe, to the Supreme Lodge, gave a very full 
and complete statement of the condition of the Order 
during the year in which he had been the Supreme Chan- 
cellor. During that time over four hundred Subordinate 
Lodges and seven Grand Lodges had been instituted, the 
Grand Lodges being those of South Carolina, instituted 
January 2, 1872; Tennessee, instituted April 2, 1872; 
Ontario, instituted April 9, 1872, under the administra- 
tion of Samuel Read, as Supreme Chancellor, while the 
following Grand Jurisdictions had been instituted under 
his own administration, viz.: Alabama, instituted June II, 
1872; Maine, instituted July 9, 1872; Kansas, instituted 
September 4, 1872; Michigan, instituted February 19, 





HENRY CLAY BERRY, 

Past Sunrerae Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 287 

1873. Lodges had also been organized in Wyoming, 
Florida, Vermont, Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Washing- 
ton Territory, Oregon, and Nevada. 

Since the last session the new ritual, which was adopted 
at that time, had gone into force, and the Order was in 
good working condition, with a total membership, as 
reported, of 46, 509, not including the membership in the 
States of Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Michigan, and Ontario, 
which, for some reason, not stated, was not reported. 
Although the S. R. and C. S., Clarence M. Barton, made 
a long and very complete report of the progress and con- 
dition of the Order to the Supreme Lodge, he was not 
in attendance during the session to present it in person, 
but in lieu thereof sent the following communication : 

Washington, D. C, April 10, 1873. 

Officers and Brothers Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias — 
I respectfully present this, my resignation of the office of Supreme 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe. I am unable to straighten 
my accounts at the present time, and ask that my resignation be 
accepted, and I be allowed until the 1st day of September, 1873, 
to make a full and complete settlement with the Supreme Lodge. 
Fraternally yours, 

Clarence M. Barton, 

Sup. Rec. and Cor. Sec. 

The Supreme Lodge declined to receive the resignation, 
and referred it to a committee of five, who on the 
same day reported, recommending that the resignation be 
accepted, and that a committee of three be appointed as a 
Board of Auditors, with full power to audit the books and 
accounts of Clarence M. Barton, S. R. and C. S., and also 
those of the Supreme Banker, and to adopt such measures 
as in their wisdom might seem best for a thorough inves- 
tigation of the financial affairs of the Supreme Lodge. 
They also requested the Grand Lodges to render all the 



288 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

assistance in their power to further this investigation. 
Pending the adoption of this report, P. S. C. Dunn was 
authorized to proceed to Washington and demand of Bar- 
ton all books, documents, archives, property, and the seal 
of the Supreme Lodge. The resolution also provided 
that he should receive the foregoing property and return 
it to the Supreme Lodge. Dunn accordingly went to 
Washington, and on his return reported that he had 
secured the seal of the Supreme Lodge, but not the books, 
records and papers. On the same day, however, a tele- 
gram was received from Clarence M. Barton, dated at 
Philadelphia, and directed to P. S. C. Samuel Read, stat- 
ing that he would return to Washington that day, and that 
all books, papers and moneys would be ready to be turned 
over to his successor. 

The report of the committee to accept the resignation 
of Barton, and to appoint an auditing committee, which 
was presented on the first day of the session, was taken 
up for action on the fifth day and rejected. A resolu- 
tion of similar import, however, was passed, requiring the 
committee to examine the accounts of S. R. and C. S. 
Barton from the time of the organization of the Supreme 
Lodge to the close of that session (1873), and that they 
make this examination during the interim of the sessions 
of the Supreme Lodge, and report to the Supreme Chan- 
cellor as soon as possible. This committee discharged their 
duties carefully and thoroughly, and made a very complete 
report to the Supreme Chancellor, October 27, 1873, by 
which it appears that Clarence M. Barton, by virtue of his 
official position, and during his terms of office from the 
formation of the Supreme Lodge to the session of 1873, 
had received for the Supreme Lodge from various sources 
the sum of $48,222.82, and had accounted for $40,296.51, 
leaving a balance unaccounted for and owing to the 
Supreme Lodge of $7,926. 31. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 289 

Although the history of this, the first and only defalca- 
tion of a Supreme Lodge officer, will here take us into the 
session of 1874, we prefer to give it all at this place in "one 
part." At the opening of the session in 1874, S. C. H. C. 
Berry reported that neither he nor the acting Supreme 
Recording and Corresponding Scribe had received the 
books, supplies or property of the Supreme Lodge from 
Clarence M. Barton. 

In the session of 1875 the then Supreme Chancellor, S. 
S. Davis, reported that on the 12th of April, 1875, he suc- 
ceeded in finding one ledger, one minute book, one register 
of lodges and one register of Past Grand Chancellors, at 
Pittsburg, Pa. 

Supreme Chancellor Berry found this defalcation of 
Barton one of the many serious cares and troubles of his 
administration, for he had others of which we shall 
speak further on. This one came at the outset of his term 
of office. 

The Supreme Chancellor, on leaving Richmond at the 
close of the session of 1873, went to Washington and 
secured a midnight interview with Barton, and arranged 
with him for a meeting the following day*, at which the 
Supreme Lodge officers and the special committee were to 
be present to investigate his books and accounts. That 
meeting took place, and during the interview Barton 
claimed that his shortage would not exceed fifteen or six- 
teen hundred dollars, and assured them that it should all be 
settled in full, and, further, that as the Supreme Lodge 
had not accepted his resignation he would resume his duties 
as Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, and per- 
form them punctually and well. The history shows that 
he utterly failed to keep his pledge, for he did not settle 
the accounts nor perform the duties of the office. The 
Supreme Chancellor was thus placed in an exceedingly 
embarrassing situation, which subjected him to very unjust 



29O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

and severe criticism by many prominent members of the 
Order. 

It is well in this connection to consider the condition 
and financial troubles of the Supreme Lodge, which were 
produced in a very great measure by Barton's deficit, and 
extended not only through the administration of H. C. 
Berry but were transmitted to his successor. The indebt- 
edness of the Supreme Lodge, prior to the session of 1873, 
after making all allowances and deductions that might per- 
haps be in favor of that body, amounted to $3,145.62; 
add to this the expenses of session of 1873, $4,860.95, and 
we have the total amount of its liabilities — $8,006.57. 
The amount of Barton's defalcation, as shown by the 
report of the committee, was $7,926.31. Had Barton 
been honest, and had he administered the affairs of his 
office properly, there should have been no indebtedness 
at the convening of the session of 1873, and there 
would have been more than enough money in the treas- 
ury to meet the expenses of that session. All of this 
accumulated burden of debt was thrown upon the chief 
executive of the Order to meet and struggle with, while 
attempting to build up the Order. The Supreme Lodge 
decided to issue scrip in order to raise funds to pay this 
indebtedness and meet accruing expenses ; * and also 
resolved to issue certificates of indebtedness to Supreme 
Lodge officers and representatives, for mileage and per 
diem,f but these things only proved so many additional 
perplexities in the administration of the affairs of the Order. 
The clouds seemed to grow darker and heavier all the 
time. Barton was still in office, doing nothing, and thus 
further crippling and endangering the life of the organiza- 
tion by his inaction. He would not even answer the com- 
munications of the Supreme Chancellor. There was no 

* Page 709, Supreme Lodge Journal. 
t Page 770, Supreme Lodge Journal. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 29 1 

power vested in the Supreme Chancellor whereby he could 
remove him. The so-called Articles of Incorporation of 
the Supreme Lodge were not only so defective in their 
construction that a criminal prosecution against Barton 
would have failed, but under these articles it was equally 
unsafe to have begun a civil action to recover the amount 
of the defalcation. This was not all ; under the strict 
interpretation of the so-called Articles of Incorporation it 
might perhaps have been shown that there were in reality 
no legal officers of the Supreme Lodge to bring an action 
or suit at law. One step further, and it would have been 
shown, if tested by the Courts, that t/iere were 710 Articles of 
Incorporation at all, and therefore there was no legal corpo- 
rate body of the Knights of Pythias, for the reason that 
nowhere did the Journal of the Supreme Lodge show a copy of 
the so-called "Articles of Incorporation." True, there was a 
statement that they had been adopted, etc., but they were 
nowhere embodied in the minutes. Barton was the S. R. 
and C. S. when these articles were adopted; he should 
have set them out in the Journal. Why it was not done 
he alone can tell. Certain it was, the Supreme Lodge 
was helpless in the premises. 

In the midst of this perplexity Barton sent to the 
Supreme Chancellor his peremptory resignation as S. R. 
and C. S., which was accepted, and P. G. C. Charles P. 
Carty, of Indiana, was appointed to fill the office ad interim. 
This resignation of Barton and the appointment of his suc- 
cessor came just at a time when the attention of the public 
was being called to the matter by notices in the public 
press stating that the Supreme Lodge was bankrupt. The 
Grand Jurisdictions, too, were declaring that they would 
not forward remittances to or for the benefit of the Supreme 
Lodge so long as Barton held the office of S. R. and C. S. 

Supreme Chancellor Berry, in his report at the session 
of 1874, stated that the Supreme Lodge was "in debt to 



292 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

almost everybody who had ever credited the body ; the 
Supreme Representatives were unpaid for that session 
(1873), and there were more or less old warrants still out 
for previous sessions ; we had no supplies on hand, and 
those that were printed, or in the form of electrotype plates, 
were in the hands of those to whom we were largely 
indebted. All wanted their money ; we had none to give 
them ; and your Supreme officers required supplies, which 
they, not being able to pay for, could not get." 

The printer in charge of the printing of the new ritual 
demanded payment for the copies that the Supreme Lodge 
had ordered printed and sent out to the Grand Jurisdic- 
tions ; he refused to print or furnish others unless he was 
secured for the payment. Another trouble that arose at 
this point in connection with the printing of the rituals, 
was, that owing to the Order's lack of funds, the printers 
who had been especially employed to print the rituals, 
because they were members of the Order, had been forced 
to seek other work, were scattered in all directions and 
could not readily be again secured, even if some satisfac- 
tory way for paying their wages were devised. An 
arrangement was finally made so that all supplies furnished 
should be sent out C. O. D., and in that way secure pay- 
ment for them, the Supreme Chancellor and acting S. R. 
and C. S. becoming personally responsible to the con- 
tractors for the articles furnished. 

Another most vexatious matter during this financial 
trouble and difficulty in furnishing supplies confronted the 
Supreme officers. After the Supreme Lodge, at the ses- 
sion of 1873, learned that Barton was a defaulter, and that 
there were no means whereby they could pay the indebt- 
edness, the following resolution, to which reference has 
been made, was adopted : 

Resolved, That the Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe 
be and is hereby authorized to issue certificates of indebtedness of 
this Supreme body for mileage and per diem to its officers and Repre- 



HTSTORY AND LITERATURE. 293 

sentatives, which shall be accepted in payment for their respective 
amounts for supplies and representative tax whenever due from the 
different jurisdictions. " * 

Here was an act of legislation which, if adhered to in 
this crisis, harrassed as the Supreme Chancellor was by 
the creditors of the Order clamoring for their money on 
the one hand, and the Grand Jurisdictions on the other 
demanding rituals and supplies, would completely stop the 
entire machinery of the Order, and render it utterly power- 
less to move. If the Grand Jurisdictions, or any number 
of them, should attempt to pay with these certificates their 
liabilities to the Supreme Lodge for supplies furnished, it 
meant financial ruin to the Supreme Chancellor and his 
co-surety to the material men, for by their agreement they 
were liable personally. If the Supreme Chancellor fur- 
nished supplies at all it must be done for cash. There 
was a prior "act" passed at the session of the S. L. in 
1 87 1, which provided: " That the Supreme Scribe be and 
he is hereby strictly forbidden to deliver any supplies to Grand 
Scribes or others, unless the cash accompany the order asking 
for such supplies." Strictly speaking, this last law was 
repealed by the subsequent legislation of 1873, making 
the Supreme Lodge "certificates of indebtedness" legal 
tender to the Supreme Lodge for indebtedness to that body, 
in so far as certificates were issued and held by parties who 
might purchase from the Supreme Lodge. 

The time had come for a determined will and a strong 
hand to control the helm, if the Pythian ship was to be 
brought safe through the storm-tossed sea. That hand and 
will was found in the person of Supreme Chancellor Berry. 
He saw that the vessel was about to be driven upon the 
rocks, and did the only thing that could be done to save 
it. The solution of the problem seems quite simple, per- 
haps, in the light of the act accomplished. It was this : 

* Page 770, Supreme Lodge Journal, 1873, 



294 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The certificates of indebtedness had not as yet been issued 
to any very large amount, although it was the order of the 
Supreme Lodge that they should be issued. Now if the 
remainder were not issued, they could not be presented 
in payment, hence the further issuance of certificates was 
stopped by the following order to the S. R. and C. S. : 

" You will not issue any 'Certificates of Indebtedness ' for 
mileage or per diem to any one, at least for the present. " 

Such was the order of an officer who was determined to 
save a Brotherhood whose principles, objects and aims had 
enlisted his very soul for its preservation. The reason he 
gives for this action is worthy of every honest Knight's 
endorsement. He says : ' ' Justice must be done to the old 
debts — especially to those outside the Order — before new ones 
can be put afloat to completely shatter the weakened credit 
of, or draw odium and scandal on, our whole Order, from 
its Supreme Lodge debts being unpaid, or thrown on the 
market to be offered at discounts so large as to prove 
us not only ' hard up, ' but, in fact, bankrupt. * * * 
Finally, if we are to rally from the staggering blow and 
effects oitixz past management of 'financial 'matters, why, who 
more in duty bound to waive personal claims for the time 
being than we who are the interested parties? " In other 
words, they who were membe-rs of the Pythian family or 
household must bide their time ; it was a family debt to 
strangers, and common justice demanded that the following 
part of the order to the S. R. and C. S. should be adopted, 
as well as the first part just given : 

"All orders for supplies where the money or P. O. order 
is not remitted with the order for them, must go C. O. D., 
with return collection for charges thereon, and no variation 
in any instance in this respect is admissible." 

Thus by firmness and determination were the funds 
raised to meet the then present wants and absolute neces- 
sities for the management of the affairs of the Order. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 295 

It is indeed refreshing to turn from the record of 
the man who had been trusted and honored as Barton had 
been by the Supreme Lodge, one who had made such 
strong professions of devotion to the Order, and yet had 
proved himself wholly recreant, and look to the one who, 
with faith in the ultimate triumph of the Order, gave it not 
only his best thought and labor, but also took his stand 
"in the deadly breach," if, perchance, he might break the 
strong tide of battle that had set in against it. These are 
the words of one who was intensely in earnest in the fight : 
" I have, and will, become personally responsible for what, 
under the circumstances, we otherwise could or can not 
get ; and shall use every effort, and expend any energy I 
may be gifted with, to stay the current of want of confi- 
dence that has exhibited itself, and hope to be able, with 
your assistance, to triumph over all combinations or circum- 
stances, whether accidental or studied. Remember that 
the duties, though laborious, are worth the hoped-for 
result." 

The shadow of the cloud thrown over the Knights of 
Pythias by Barton's crime followed all through this ad- 
ministration. It was a terrible struggle " 'gainst wind and 
tide," but the Order was stronger when the commander 
turned over his commission than it was when first he 
assumed command, and the storm had in some degree 
begun to abate. The records show that the embarrass- 
ment of the Supreme Lodge was just as terrible as it 
could possibly be, and all must have been lost had it not 
been for a few individuals who, even in the midst of the 
greatest distress, had a firm and abiding faith that all 
would yet be saved, and in that faith could say with 
Cowper — 

" The darkest day, 
Live till to-morrow, will have passed away." 

And it did pass away ; but before that day came, the best 



296 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

efforts of the best hearts and minds of the Knighthood had 
been taxed to their utmost. 

But to refer again to him who caused this trouble, 
Clarence M. Barton. Not only did he prove a defaulter, 
but by his reports to the Supreme Lodge he also involved 
some of the Grand Jurisdictions in financial trouble with 
the Supreme Lodge, and for a time placed a cloud upon 
their record in the Supreme body. This was remedied by 
the action of the Supreme Lodge as soon as the facts 
became known. 

We will close the Pythian history of this man with a 
few extracts from the records. At the session of the Su- 
preme Lodge of 1874 the following preamble and resolu- 
tions were presented and adopted : 

Whereas, Unmistakable evidence exists by the books of Clarence 
M. Barton, late Supreme Recording and Corresponding Scribe, also 
by said Barton's own admission that he, Barton, is a defaulter to this 
Supreme body, and 

Whereas, A committee have been appointed for the purpose of 
having a settlement with him, they having had an interview with said 
Barton, he promising to meet them, but has willfully neglected to 
settle with them, thereby treating this Supreme Lodge with contempt, 
therefore 

Resolved, That Clarence M. Barton, late Supreme Recording and 
Corresponding Scribe of this Supreme Lodge, be and is hereby sus- 
pended from membership in this body ; and further 

Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia be 
requested to direct the Subordinate Lodge to which he belongs to 
prefer charges with specifications, and give him a trial in the prem- 
ises, and inflict such penalty as they may deem fit and proper. 

Thus ended the life of one in the Supreme Lodge, who 
was a disturber of the peace and harmony of that body 
from its first session until expelled therefrom. Charges 
were also preferred against him in his Grand and Subordi- 
nate Lodges on account of his defalcations, and he was 
convicted and expelled from the Order. 

The administration of H. C. Berry, as Supreme Chan- 
cellor, was an era of trouble not only to himself as the 
chief executive, but to the Supreme Lodge as well. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE 297 

Samuel Read, predecessor of H. C. Berry, as Supreme 
Chancellor, had, on retiring, announced that peace reigned 
everywhere throughout the Supreme Jurisdiction, but the 
sky was soon overcast after the adjournment of the session 
of 1872. The Supreme Lodge had ordered that the new 
rituals should go into force on and after the 1st day of 
July, 1872. There was no trouble apprehended from the 
Grand Jurisdictions in their execution of the orders of the 
Supreme body on this subject. Pennsylvania, however, 
in Grand Lodge session in July, 1872, while admitting 
that the Supreme Lodge had the power to alter or amend 
the ritual, by resolution denied the power or authority of 
the Supreme Lodge to compel the Grand or Subordinate 
Lodges to purchase rituals to replace the ones for which 
they had already paid. It was also resolved that the 
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania could not, and the Subordi- 
nate Lodges would not, pay for them, and protested 
against the issuing of the revised ritual in Pennsylvania, 
and requested Supreme Chancellor Berry to suspend the 
orders for its issue until the next session of the Supreme 
Lodge. To this request the Supreme Chancellor returned 
a courteous but emphatic denial, and in his reply to their 
communication answered their protest very fully. He also 
tried to harmonize the difficulty, but Pennsylvania was 
firm in her determination,' and the trouble on this subject 
grew until the Supreme Chancellor was compelled to take 
action in order to quell the disturbance, and establish the 
supremacy of the Supreme Lodge in the Keystone State. 

The letters, communications, and orders of the Su- 
preme Chancellor, directed to the Grand Chancellor of 
that State, were treated with silent contempt and ignored 
altogether, and the question finally resolved itself into the 
issue as to which was the greater, the Supreme Lodge of 
the World or the Grand Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. 



298 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Why Pennsylvania should have been the only Grand 
Jurisdiction that demurred to the action of the Supreme 
Lodge in revising and promulgating the ritual, does not 
very clearly appear from the records. In many respects 
the conduct of the Grand Chancellor of that State resem- 
bled the freak of a spoiled and pouting boy. The Su- 
preme Lodge, in its legislation, had shown great deference 
to the wishes of the Supreme Representatives of that 
Jurisdiction, and had, on the motion and resolution of her 
Representative (Linton) in the Supreme Lodge, ordered 
the rituals for Pennsylvania bound without the Amplified 
Third Rank work, and good faith with her Representative 
demanded that her Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge officers 
should have accepted the rituals, and acquiesced in the 
action of the Supreme Lodge. Respectful demands from 
the chief executive of the Order fell upon ears wilfully 
deaf, or were treated with contempt, until at last the 
Supreme Chancellor was forced to issue, December 5, 
1872, to the Grand Chancellor and Grand Recording and 
Corresponding Scribe, the following : 

IMPERATIVE ORDER, 

That Daniel M. Blackburn, Grand Chancellor, George Hawkes, 
Grand Recording and Corresponding Scribe, and each and every 
Grand Officer, all and singular, vested with power in the prem- 
ises, of the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of the Grand Ju- 
risdiction of Pennsylvania, repromulgate, and cause to be repro- 
mulgated, the certain official orders of promulgation emanating 
from this office, under date of October 21, A. D. 1872, Pythian 
Period the ninth, and pertaining to and covering the issuance of 
the " Revised and Amplified Ritual of Ceremonial for the use 
of the Knights of Pythias," wherever existing, within the space 
of and before the expiration of sixty days from the date of this 
order; and that they enforce the same in every> particular; and it 
is further 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 299 

ORDERED 

That for and in consideration of the disrespect and contumacy, 
as shown in the non-conforming to, or complying with, the 
original issuance of the said orders, when first issued in the name 
of the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World, that 
the said Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, through its Grand offi- 
cers, having acted in a contumacious spirit, be disciplined, and 
that all communication cease with it, its officers or representa- 
tives, until complying in full with the expressed will and legisla- 
tion of the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World, 
purged itself of the contumacy and contempt, and furnished 
proper evidence of the same to this office ; or, if disobeying 
this order by non-conforming thereto, its powers as a Grand 
Lodge, emanating from the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias 
of the World, be suspended, its charter recalled, revoked, and 
annulled, and its powers as a Grand Lodge to cease or be of any 
legal or binding force in the Order of Knights of Pythias. 

This order remained unheeded until the Grand Lodge 
of Pennsylvania met in January, 1873, when that body, 
by resolution, directed the Grand Chancellor to promul- 
gate the ritual without the Amplified Third Rank. This 
was well as far as it went, but did not go far enough in 
the estimation of the Supreme Chancellor, for the reason 
that the Grand Lodge or its officers had not promulgated, 
and did not propose to promulgate, the order of the Su- 
preme Lodge issued by the Supreme Chancellor October 
21, 1872, making the official announcement and promulga- 
tion of the new ritual. Although notice was given offi- 
cially to the Supreme Chancellor of the action of the 
Pennsylvania Grand Lodge, he declined to give Grand 
Lodge officers the rituals, or communicate the S. A. P. W. 
in that Jurisdiction, until the order of October 21, 1872, 
referred to, should be promulgated to the Subordinate 
Lodges ; but he authorized the Supreme Recording and 
and Corresponding Scribe to issue the rituals to all Subor- 
dinate Lodges in that jurisdiction who forwarded the 



300 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

necessary fee and old rituals to him. Upon this action of 
the Supreme Chancellor becoming known, the Grand 
Chancellor issued an "Order and Decree" to the Subor- 
dinate Lodges of his jurisdiction, one paragraph of which 
will show the spirit and purport of the whole. Thus it 
orders : 

II. That each and every Subordinate Lodge of the Order 
in this jurisdiction, and each and every officer thereof, is hereby 
expressly prohibited from holding any official communication with the 
Supreme Chancellor of the Order, and Supreme Recording and 
Corresponding Scribe, or any officer of the Supreme Lodge, or with 
the Supreme Lodge itself, except through the medium of the 
Grand Lodge of this State ; and said Subordinate Lodges, and 
the officers thereof, severally and collectively, are hereby further 
expressly cautioned and prohibited from receiving or in any way 
acting upon any communication, order, or decree from the Su- 
preme Chancellor, the Supreme Lodge, or any officer thereof, 
which has not been sent or forwarded through this office. Any 
action or deed performed on the part of any Subordinate Lodge 
in contravention or opposition to this order will be in direct viola- 
tion of the laws — both of the Grand Lodge of this State and 
of the Supreme Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has 
already held that under its charter and constitution it is the 
Supreme authority in Pythian Knighthood for all the purposes of 
State Jurisdiction ; and it is irregular and improper for the Su- 
preme Lodge to interfere or issue orders to the Subordinate Lodges 
in this jurisdiction, or to attempt to enforce orders upon them 
during the recess of this body, or through any other agency 
than the Grand Lodge. 

This "Order and Decree" speedily brought decisive 
action on the part of the Supreme Chancellor, and on the 
17th of March, 1873, he issued a formal proclamation, and 
order of suspension and vacation of the charter of the Grand 
Lodge of Pennsylvania, declaring said Grand Lodge to be 
in open rebellion and revolt against the Supreme Lodge 
and constituted authority. By this order Pennsylvania 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3OI 

was to be known as the " District of Pennsylvania," and 
was placed in charge of Supreme Inner Steward Joseph 
D. Weeks, as D. G. C, and he was empowered to take 
charge of said district, and carry out and enforce the laws 
of the Supreme Lodge. The Supreme Lodge, at the ses- 
sion of 1873, passed resolutions of censure against the 
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and endorsed and thankee 
" Henry Clay Berry for the zealous care with which he has 
guarded the authority entrusted to his care " ; but at the 
same time called in question his right to annul the exist- 
ence of a Grand Lodge, and said "that it could not be 
exercised without the express and specific sanction of pos- 
itive law, which does not exist." The Supreme Lodge 
did not, however, receive and restore the Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania into good standing in the Supreme Lodge, 
and re-endow it with its rights and prerogatives as a Grand 
Lodge until it signified its willingness through its officers 
to comply with all the legislation of the Supreme Lodge, 
and upon this being done it was restored. Thus ended the 
trouble of 1872 and 1873 in Pennsylvania, and from that 
day to this it has been one of the most prosperous juris- 
dictions in the Order. * 

The entire work and prosperity of the Order through- 
out the administration of H. C. Berry, as Supreme Chan- 
cellor, seemed to be hedged about with vexatious cares and 
troubles. The appointment of P. G. C. Charles P. Carty, 
as S. R. and C. S. proved to be a source of annoyance and 
trouble from the day he assumed the duties of the office 
until his resignation was tendered and accepted. The 
appointment of P. G. C. W. J. Long, of Michigan, to the 
position vacated by Carty, brought about a better state of 

* Since the above was written another storm cloud has arisen in the 
Grand Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, and again the old contest has opened 
as to the powers and supremacy of the Supreme Lodge, or the Supreme 
Chancellor in the interim between the sessions of the S. L, 



302 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

affairs, and the machinery worked much more smoothly 
thereafter. 

At the opening of the session of the Supreme Lodge 
held at Pittsburg, Pa., April, 1874, the Supreme Chan- 
cellor announced that "the occupancy of the office, espe- 
cially for the past year, has been fraught with trouble and 
turmoil. The year has been one full of labor and perplex- 
ities." 

Notwithstanding all of the troubles through which the 
Order had passed, from the adjournment of the Supreme 
Lodge in 1873 to its convening in 1874, there had been 
a steady growth in the older jurisdictions, and. an exten- 
sion into new territory. Two Grand Jurisdictions had been 
added, Nevada, organized March 31, 1874, and Texas, 
organized April 6, 1874, and the total membership of the 
Order had reached 97,000. 

The matter of general legislation of the greatest impor- 
tance at this term was the revision, amendment and adop- 
tion of the amended Constitution of the Supreme Lodge, 
which changed the titles of officers, and the Supreme 
Lodge was made to consist of: 

I. All Past Supreme Chancellors; 2. Past Supreme 
Chancellor; 3. Supreme Chancellor (presiding officer); 
4. Supreme Vice Chancellor; 5. Supreme Prelate; 6. 
Supreme Master of Exchequer; 7. Supreme Keeper of 
Records and Seal; 8. Supreme Master at Arms; 9. 
Supreme Inner Guard; 10. Supreme Outer Guard; 11. 
Two Supreme Representatives from each Grand Lodge, 
until there are 20,000 members belonging to one Grand 
Lodge ; and one representative for each additional 10,000 
members ; provided, that no Grand Lodge should be enti- 
tled to more than four Supreme Representatives. 

There had been much talk in regard to the establishing 
of the Order in Europe, but no report of anything ever 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 303 

accomplished in that direction had been made until this 
session, when a report was submitted of the formation and 
institution of "Britannia Lodge, No. I, K. of P., of the 
city of London, the Grand Jurisdiction of England. " The 
report of P. C. Geo. O. Garnsey (since P. G. C. and P. S. 
R.) is a very interesting one, describing the manner in 
which he traveled about in search of proper persons 
to organize the Lodge. Bro. Garnsey adds a very sig- 
nificant postscript to his report in which he says: "I will 
add that the D. G. C. thinks the same as I do, that No. i's 
progress will be slow on account of its being American." 
So far as we are able to learn, the growth of Britannia 
Lodge, No. 1, has been so slow that it has not been heard 
from since its birth was reported. There has been much 
legislation and translation of rituals into foreign tongues 
for the purpose of planting the Order on foreign soil, and 
it has all come to naught, for the reason, as stated by Bro. 
Garnsey, it is American, and the question suggests itself, 
would it not be better to perfect it as a strictly American 
Order, in and for the American continent alone ? 

Here we close our account of the administration of one, 
who, by his zeal, firmness, and unfaltering faith, saved the 
life of the Order, and made it possible for his successors to 
relieve the Supreme Lodge of its great load of debts and 
financial troubles. His firmness and devotion to duty pre- 
served the integrity of the Supreme Jurisdiction, and es- 
tablished, beyond all doubt, the fact of the supremacy of 
the Supreme Lodge, and under his leadership it was 
decided by our highest Pythian authority that the Supreme 
Lodge is, in fact, as well as in name, the Supreme Head of 
the Order, and that its edicts and laws cannot be set aside 
or ignored by any Grand Jurisdiction, however large or 
strong that jurisdiction may be. 



304 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

A short sketch of the life of Henry Clay Berry, P. S. C, 
will be of interest to the membership of to-day, for we 
probably hear less of him than of others who succeeded 
him. 

HENRY CLAY BERRY 

Was born in Boone County, Kentucky, April 21, 1831, 
where he resided for the earlier portion of his life At the 
outbreak of the Mexican campaign he joined the American 
army, remaining with it till the close of the war. Return- 
ing from the army he engaged in mercantile pursuits, his 
business extending to and including the cities of Louis- 
ville, St. Louis, Cincinnati and New York. Thus he con- 
tinued until overtaken by the commercial panic of 1856-7, 
when he removed from New York City to the west, where 
he engaged in active life in the Mississippi marine service, 
and located himself and family in the city of St. Louis. 

In 1862, owing to the complications existing, the crip- 
pling effect of which circumscribed his field of action, 
Berry was induced to move to Chicago and again embark 
in mercantile life on a very extensive scale, as the repre- 
sentative of one of the oldest and most solid houses of 
that day. 

In 1868, having lost his family by death, with shattered 
health from close and intense application to the different 
duties devolving upon him, he retired from active business 
pursuits with a view to recruit. 

In May, 1869, the Order of Knights of Pythias was 
introduced in Chicago, and in November of the same 
year Board of Trade [now Gauntlet] Lodge, No. 4, was 
instituted, and a few months after its organization Henry 
Clay Berry was admitted within its portals. He rapidly 
passed through its various offices ; became a Past Chan- 
cellor; was present at the organization of the Grand 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 305 

Lodge of Illinois, and was at once unanimously elected 
its first Grand Chancellor. 

During the years 1870, 187 1, and 1872 Brother Berry 
was the unanimous choice of Illinois as Representative 
from that State, and became at once an acknowledged 
leader in the Supreme counsels of the Order. 

In 1872, at the session held in Baltimore, he was a 
candidate against the outgoing presiding officer, Samuel 
Read, and was elected Supreme Chancellor, serving in 
that position during the term 1872-74. 

In all his labors in connection with the Order, Brother 
Henry Clay Berry has been earnest, zealous, and hard- 
working, and to him is indeed mainly due the upbuild- 
ing of the Order in Illinois. This statement will be 
better appreciated when we take into consideration the 
condition in which the organization was found imme- 
diately succeeding the great Chicago fire of 1871. Un- 
daunted by the magnitude of the calamity, by the loss of 
the beautiful Pythian temple, and the utter destruction of 
all the Grand and Subordinate Lodge records and effects, 
he measured fully up to the emergencies of the hour, gath- 
ered together the scattered and shattered forces, planted 
the banner of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence, and 
soon had hundreds of the faithful again beneath its folds. 
He quickly reorganized and revived their drooping cour- 
age, spoke words of cheerful comfort, and, though a 
ruined man himself, he never faltered, but night and day 
labored in the interests of the Order, and for the care and 
relief of those of the brethren in distress For this 
special labor of love the Chicago brethren owe him more 
than they can repay — they owe him every honor and 
recognition they can bestow. 

Brother Berry is a man born to command, of dignified 
presence, fine voice, and excellent address ; a man who is 



3o6 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



strong in his likes and dislikes, but who never fears a foe ; 
he is a man of culture and gentlemanly demeanor, 3 
pleasant conversationalist, and can always entertain his. 
audience ; he is still a member of Gauntlet Lodge, No. 4, 
of Chicago, and, in addition to his connection with 
Pythian Knighthood, he has for over twenty years been a 
member of Blaney Lodge F. and A. M., Royal Arch 
Chapter, and Oriental Sovereign Consistory, 3 2°, S. P. R. S 



¥<MMi «* 








ST1LLMAN SAMUEL DAVIS, 

Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



307 



CHAPTER XII, 



1874— 1878. 

Administration of Stillman S. Davis as Supreme Chancellor — Su- 
preme Lodge Debt — Struggles and Doubts — Joseph Dowdall, 
Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal— Condition of the Order — 
Hawaiian Islands — Petitions for the Natives — Yellow Fever at 
Savannah, Ga.— Uniform Rank Adopted — Stillman Samuel 
Davis, Sketch of. 

MONTHS of toil and care fell to 
the lot of Supreme Chancellor S. 
S. Davis, after the adjournment 
of the sixth annual session, be- 
fore that body again met in its 
seventh annual session at Wash- 
ington, D. C, May 18, 1877. 
The greatest portion of the his- 
tory of the Knights of Pythias 
does not consist in the legislation 
of the Supreme Lodge, but in 
the work and results accomplished 
in the interim between its sessions. Although his im- 
mediate predecessor had succeeded in holding the Order 
together, the work that was left for S. C. Davis was 
enough to appall any one not thoroughly imbued with a 
love for the Order and an earnest purpose to save it from 
the utter and absolute ruin with which it was threatened. 
The first item in the legacy bequeathed to the Supreme 
Chancellor by the Supreme Lodge at the close of the sixth 
annual session was an empty exchequer and a debt of over 




308 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

$17,000. This immense burden had necessarily grown, as 
time passed. The plan which had been adopted provid- 
ing for the issuance of bonds to be bought by Grand and 
Subordinate Lodges, and members of the Order generally, 
had proved almost a total failure. The session of 1884 then 
decided to levy an assessment of twenty cents per capita 
on the membership of each Grand Jurisdiction as shown 
on the 1st day of January, 1874, and the incoming 
Supreme Chancellor at the close of that session was charged 
with the duty of its collection. As the indebtedness was 
due, and more money was needed to meet present neces- 
sities, Supreme Chancellor Davis gave his first attention to 
the collection of this per capita tax, and without delay 
issued his appeal to the different Grand and Subordinate 
Lodges. He did not however depend upon these official 
circulars alone to bring about the desired result, for he also 
wrote personal letters to officers and members of the Order 
throughout the Supreme Jurisdiction, invoking their aid 
in bringing the matter before the lodges and urging them 
to give prompt and satisfactory responses to the appeal. 
Acting in full accord with the Supreme Chancellor was the 
then S. K. of R. and S., Joseph Dowdall, who labored 
most zealously to secure the funds needed to relieve the 
Supreme Lodge. These appeals did not receive the hearty 
and unanimous responses that were anticipated, and the 
Supreme Chancellor at times felt much discouraged. Said 
he : " I need not tell you of the anxiety felt by Brother 
Dowdall and myself, as we watched the responses to the 
call, and learned of the opposition which was manifested 
by some who we had hoped would give us their cordial 
support ; of our fears lest, after all our efforts, we should 
fail to pay the debt, and that we would abandon the work 
and resign." 

With all these discouragements he did not fail to give 
credit to whom credit was due in the trying hour. He 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3O9 

said: "I am pleased to acknowledge the promptness of 
the smaller jurisdictions in responding to the request for 
aid. Many of them were in debt, and struggling against 
adversity in various forms ; but they felt it was a duty to 
afford relief to the Supreme Lodge ; that the honor and 
integrity of every member of the Order was involved in 
the payment of the debt." 

At the end of his first year he thus reported to the 
Supreme Lodge on this subject: "Notwithstanding a 
large amount of the money solicited by the Supreme 
Lodge for the payment of its debt has not yet been 
received, I am pleased to announce to you that the old 
debt is nearly all paid. * * * * We regret that we 
cannot report to you the full payment of the old debt, 
with sufficient money on hand to pay all the expenses of 
the present session, leaving no uncertainty in the result. 
But not being able to do this, we will endeavor to be grate- 
ful for what has been accomplished, and accord all honor to 
those who have contributed to the payment of the debt. 
Let it be written over against the ' Roll of Honor, ' that 
when our noble Order was being crushed by misfortune, 
disgrace, and debt, they nobly stood firm to its principles, 
vindicating its honor before the world, meeting in a knight- 
ly spirit its obligations, paying its previously dishonored 
drafts, and breasting the storm of discontent and derision 
which has hung over us like a pall. One year ago the 
Supreme Lodge was bankrupt and without credit; to-day 
it is nearly free from debt, solvent, and. with ample credit 
with the commercial world. Think not that this has been 
accomplished without a struggle. I assure you, brethren, 
it has come only by patient and ceasless toil and sacrifice, 
never I trust to be the experience of those who come 
after us." 

Not only in this matter of the debt, but in all the 
numerous and perplexing embarrassments in which the 



3IO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Supreme Lodge was placed, one man there was on whom 
he could rely for the wisest and best assistance ; one who 
was ever ready to lend a helping hand whether by day or 
by night; that man was Joseph Dowdall, S. K. of R. andS., 
and without him, or some one equally as strong, it is doubt- 
ful whether the then Supreme Chancellor could have 
penned the words above quoted. 

Joseph Dowdall, from the day of his entry upon his 
official duties to the day of his death, was a tower of 
strength and wisdom to the Order, and when his life closed 
the Knights of Pythias had one of its strongest pillars 
broken. 

After entering upon the duties of his office, not only 
did S. S. Davis have to superintend the raising of funds to 
pay the debts of the Supreme Lodge, but he was also 
charged with the duty of publishing and promulgating the 
new "Installation Books" and "Traveling Shields," the 
first documents of their kind published by the Order. 
Jewels for officers, and charts, were also to be prepared 
under his supervision. These were only some of the duties 
imposed upon the head of the Order, to be performed 
during the recess. It was also expected that he would 
give his personal attention to the building up of the Order, 
not only in jurisdictions already established, but that he 
would carry it into new fields. Through his efforts the 
Grand Lodge of Georgia was instituted July 23, 1874, with 
seven lodges. In many of the jurisdictions the Order was 
languishing, in some dead. The S. K. of R. and S. very 
tersely and briefly reports 

THE CONDITION OF THE ORDER. 

The annual reports of the Grand Jurisdiction show the 
membership to have increased but little during the past year. 
The causes for this it is not necessary to mention. They are 
fully known to all interested. At the same time it may be well 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3II 

enough to state that the number forfeiting membership for the 
non-payment of dues is unusually large. A very large number 
of persons seek admittance to our Order for beneficial purposes 
only. They join from pecuniary motives only. Finding the 
Supreme Lodge terribly in debt, and having no disposition to 
aid in paying the same, or fearing an obligatory per capita tax, 
they have, coward-like, allowed their names to be stricken from 
the rosters of the Subordinate Lodges, and left the burden of 
the debt to those who dared to be brave enough to face the 
ordeal. 

The report of the S. K. of R. and S. shows the total 
membership December 31, 1874, to be 101,453. 

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 

During the early part of the year 1887 there was much 
discussion by the Pythian and public press in regard to the 
admission of the King of the Hawaiian Islands to member- 
ship in the Knights of Pythias. While this was a new 
question to the younger portion of our Order, it was not 
so to those who were members of the Supreme Lodge 
session of 1875. At that time a memorial was presented 
by Oahu Lodge, No. 1, located at Honolulu, H. I., praying 
to be permitted to initiate natives, half natives and quarter 
natives of those islands into their lodge. The language 
of these petitioners may seem somewhat strange to those 
who have read the American Pythian papers of 1887. 
A few extracts are given simply to show what the ' ' other 
side " has said, and yet says, viewing matters from their 
stand-point, situated, as that branch of Pythian Knighthood 
is, in mid ocean, two thousand miles from the American 
continent. They say that "the foreign community of 
these islands is largely cosmopolitan in its character ; the 
aboriginal natives, a copper- colored race, of supposed East 
Indian origin, are law-abiding, civilized and christianized 
to an extent that will compare favorably with most nations 



312 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of Europe; many respectable foreigners having inter- 
married with the natives, have raised families which in 
personal appearance, manners and habits are in no im- 
portant respects different from Europeans or Americans ; 
they are in no way allied to nor do they resemble the 
African race;" that "His Majesty, the King of th^e 
Islands, who is now about to visit the United States, has 
been advanced to the highest honors in the venerable 
Masonic Order, yet our portals are closed against him and 
all of his race, at the same time that we enjoy the protec- 
tion of their laws. What cause of complaint should we 
have were they to prohibit our meetings, as secret societies 
are prohibited in some countries?" 

In a letter on the subject, Deputy Supreme Chancellor 
Dayton, of the Hawaiian Islands, says to the Supreme 
Chancellor, " I hope the Supreme Lodge will grant us our 
request, and allow us to receive applications from natives, 
half natives and quarter natives, and assure you the power 
will not be abused, nor will any person be received that 
the Supreme Lodge would be ashamed of." He continues: 
"Our K. of R. and S. is married to a half native woman, 
and has a large family, his boys being printers, and it is 
with much regret that we are not allowed to receive appli- 
cations from them, when if they were in the United States 
I do not think their nationality would be questioned." 

Probably all must admit that these Islanders make a 
strong case in their behalf, when we remember that in 
many cases they plead for their own flesh and blood. The 
committee to whom this subject was referred reported that 
while they realized the hardships that might accrue in the 
case, yet that the Hawaiians could not be admitted without 
a change in the Constitution, and they deemed ' ' it inex- 
pedient to recommend any change." In 1878 Supreme 
Chancellor Davis, in his report to the Supreme Lodge, says 
of the Order in the Hawaiian Islands, that ' ' Oahu Lodge, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 313 

No. I, was in a prosperous condition, with a membership 
of fifty-two. If they were allowed to receive members 
from those who are of one-half or one-fourth native de- 
scent, they would add very largely to their membership. 
Of this class I can say that they are as white as those of 
most European nations, possessed of equal intelligence and 
natural abilities, and if in this country, I fully believe the 
question of descent would not be raised." And again the 
committee reported it would be "inexpedient" to offer an 
amendment to the Constitution. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Supreme Lodge had 
at different times decided that it was ' ' inexpedient" to make 
any change, whereby the natives of the Islands might be 
admitted, yet we find at the Supreme Lodge session of 1886 
the following record shows that some had been admitted. 
The history of the Order in the Hawaiian Islands would 
not be complete without the following memorial: 

To the Supreme Chancellor, Officers and Members of the Supreme 
Lodge, Knights of Pythias of the World : 

This respectful memorial of Oahu Lodge, No. 1, K. of P., 
located at Honolulu, one of the Hawaiian Islands, working 
under the immediate jurisdiction of the Supreme Lodge, humbly 
represents : 

That this Lodge has admitted to membership the following 
persons, born of Caucasian fathers but Hawaiian or partly Hawaiian 
mothers, in that it has construed Sec. 192 of the- revised and 
corrected Digest of 1883, which section is also found in Digests 
of earlier dates, to refer only to aboriginal Hawaiians : 

Henry Smith, Department Clerk Supreme Court Hawaiian 
Islands; admitted November 14, 1877. 

William Boynton Wright, Supt. Insane Asylum; admitted 
January 30, 1878. 

Charles R. Clark, Custom House Guard ; admitted November 
10, 1880. 

James Harcbottle Boyd, Second Clerk Interior Department; 
admitted February 2, 1881. 



314 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Samuel Castle Dwight, Lumber Surveyor ; admitted February 
2, 1881. 

William Aued, Clerk Water Works; admitted October 19, 
i88r. 

John D. Holt, Governor's Clerk; admitted June 21, 1882. 

Geo. S. Hough tailing, Liquor Dealer ; admitted February 28, 
1883. 

Chas. B. Dwight, Lumber Surveyor; admitted May 2, 1883. 

Chas. L. Hopkins, Marshal's Book-keeper; admitted May 2, 
1883. 

George Markham, Port Surveyor; admitted August 22, 1883. 

John Markham, Custom House Guard; admitted August 22, 
1883. 

Oliver Stillman, Third Clerk Interior Department ; admitted 
August 22, 1883. 

Alexander Smith, Ship Carpenter; admitted August 22, 1883. 

About the end of August, 1883, the attention of the Lodge 
was called to pages 1037 and 11 29 of the Journal of Supreme 
Lodge, Vol. II, 1874-8, by D. S. C. Bro. D. Dayton, since which 
time no more of such persons have been admitted. 

In view of the fact that we have admitted these persons to 
membership, we pray that your body will cure what we have 
done and make them legal members of our Order. 

Chas. J. McCarthy, P. C, 
Thomas R. Lucas, P. C, 
[l. s.] Sam McNeague, 

Committee. 
Oscar Branch, C. C. 

This memorial was adopted by this Lodge March 27, 1886. 
John C. White, K. of R. & S. 

Whereas, This Lodge has admitted as members persons partly of 
Hawaiian blood : and 

Whereas, This Lodge has heretofore construed the meaning of the 
law prohibiting the membership of aboriginal Hawaiians not to apply to 
such persons; and 

Whereas, It has been suggested that this may be a violation of the 
law in such case made and provided , therefore be it 

Resolved, That this Lodge requests Deputy Supreme Chancellor, Bro. 
David Dayton, P. C, to ask the opinion of the Supreme Chancellor, and 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3 I 5 

that this Lodge do not entertain further applications of such persons until 
after the receipt of said opinion. That we furnish the Supreme Chancellor 
with a list of all such members and dates of their admission, together with 
other and all facts and circumstances appertaining to their admission, and 
that if the Lodge has erred in the past, we petition the Supreme Lodge 
at its next session to legalize their membership as being innocent brothers, 
and to exercise compassion on this Lodge. 

[Signed] Thomas R. Lucas, P. C, 

Oscar Branch, C. C. 

The foregoing memorial was presented to the Supreme 
Lodge by the Supreme Chancellor, and referred to the 
Committee on Law and Supervision, and that committee 
through its chairman, Supreme Representative Gale, of 
Massachusetts, made the following report, which was 
adopted : 

To the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World: 

Your Committee on Law and Supervision, to whom was 
referred so much of the Supreme Chancellor's report as appears 
under the heads of "Hawaiian Islands," have considered the 
matter, and report that in their opinion the various persons 
named in Schedule "A" are not "aboriginal inhabitants of Hawa- 
iian Islands," and it is doubtful whether they are "white persons," 
as required by the Constitution. But inasmuch as those persons 
have been admitted to membership by the Subordinate Lodges 
acting in good faith and honestly believing that they are qualified ; 
and inasmuch as these persons are possessed of the secret work 
and are persons of undoubted moral character, worth, and stand- 
ing, who are very desirable members of the Order; and inasmuch 
as a great wrong would unwittingly be done them, and probable 
harm come to the Order if they were now excluded, your com- 
mittee recommend that the action of Oahu No. 1, in admitting 
to membership the persons named in said Schedule "A," be 
declared valid, and they recommend the adoption of the following 
order : 

Ordered, That the action of Oahu Lodge, No. i,in admitting to mem- 
bership the persons named in Schedule "A" of the report of the Supreme 
Chancellor, is hereby declared valid, and that said persons are declared 
to be members of the Order. 



3l6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

And they recommend the adoption of the further order : 

Ordered^ That Oahu Lodge, No. I, be directed not to admit to mem- 
bership any other person or persons of such parentage or blood as those 
named in the Schedule "A" till further order of this Supreme Lodge. 

We now have two lodges in the Hawaiian Islands, 
Oahu, No. i, instituted August 29, 1871, with a member- 
ship, according to last report, of eighty-two, and Mystic 
Lodge, No. 2, instituted January 10, 1884, having, at last 
report, a membership of fifty-nine. Both lodges are at 
Honolulu. A warrant was granted for a Division of the 
Uniform Rank at Honolulu, but it has not yet been insti- 
tuted. It has been a struggle for the Order to exist in the 
Islands, cut off as it is from the influence and support that 
comes from being surrounded by sister lodges. The Order 
lives there to-day only through the sufferance of the King 
and Privy Council. Under the laws of that kingdom secret 
societies can exist only under license granted by the King 
and Privy Council jointly, and such license may be revoked 
at the will and pleasure of those worthies. At best, we have 
a very uncertain tenure there, and it may be possible that 
the Supreme Lodge may be compelled to find it ' 'expedient" 
to amend the Constitution and permit the natives to Si come 
in" or we may be compelled to "go out." All of the 
history and discussion regarding the Order in the Hawaiian 
Islands, from first to last, is presented here, for the reason 
that it was during the administration of Supreme Chancellor 
Davis that the question was first brought prominently before 
the Order. 

The fifteen months that intervened between the 
Supreme Lodge session of 1875 and 1876 was a period 
of very general depression in commercial and financial 
affairs in the United States, all kinds of business and 
manufacturing interests being, in a very great measure, 
either at a very low ebb or entirely suspended. It is not 
surprising then, such being the condition of the country, 






HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 317 

that the Order suffered. Not only had there been no 
increase in the membership, but the reports of the S. K. of 
R. and S. showed a loss of over three thousand. The loss 
to the Order would have been much greater had it not been 
for the almost ceaseless work of the Supreme Chancellor. 
During the year he visited twenty-seven of the States 
and Territories in the interests of the Order. In most of 
them it was a struggle for existence, and his visits infused 
new life and strength ; in other Grand Jurisdictions, notably 
in South Carolina and Louisiana, the Order, in the first 
instance, had fallen into bad hands, and was virtually dead 
before he reached them, and in these cases the charters 
were revoked, the rituals and property of the lodges were 
collected by him, and new organizations, under the control 
of the Supreme Lodge, were made of selected material. 

The session of 1876 did not enact many laws of im- 
portance to the Order, nor of special interest to the student 
seeking information regarding the Knights of Pythias. 
Some few items were presented at this session which after- 
ward, in 1877 and ^7^* culminated in the Endowment and 
Uniform Ranks, but these will merit a separate chapter for 
each, and will not be discussed here. 

The year that passed before the Supreme Lodge came 
together for its ninth annual session in Cleveland, Ohio, 
was one of continued depression in all lines of business, 
and the Order suffered proportionately with every other 
public interest. A few extracts from Supreme Chancellor 
Davis's report, session 1877, sum up the situation. He 
says : 

When last we met I fondly hoped that before the close of the 
present year the tidal wave of business depression would have 
passed, leaving every branch of useful industry in a prosperous 
condition. But these cherished hopes have not been realized to 
any great extent, and as a people we are called upon to struggle 
on still longer against this great national calamity, hoping and 
praying that deliverance may soon come to those whose fortune 



3l8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

it is to bear heavy burdens. I regret to say that the progress of 
our Order has been greatly retarded by the financial embarrass- 
ments of the times. With many of our members it has simply 
been impossible to support themselves, provide for their families, 
and pay dues to their lodges. The result is many have been 
suspended for non-payment of dues ; and many worthy men who 
would have connected themselves with our Order under other 
circumstances, could not do it, being out of employment, or 
receiving small compensation which would barely support their 
families with the strictest economy. * * * * * 

I have endeavored to obtain a statement of the work done, 
and the present standing of the Order from each Grand Jurisdic- 
tion, and those under the direct control of the S. L., from which 
I could give a brief summary which I am confident is desired by 
all. I regret that this should be so difficult of accomplishment. 
At the time of writing this, August 3d, there are five Grand Ju- 
risdictions that have not made their annual return to the S. K. 
of R. and S. or any summary of them to me. * * * 

So far as returns have been made I find there have been 9,596 
initiated during the year. There have been 14,660 suspended, 
and 847 have died.* I find that more than $275,000 have been 
paid for relief during the past year, as nearly as I can estimate 
from returns received. This k more than one-half the entire re- 
ceipts of all the lodges. This does not include any of the current 
expenses of the lodges. I am positive this is ruinous to the 
Order, and the amount paid for benefits should be greatly re- 
duced, to enable the lodges to accumulate funds for the future. 
It has already ruined many lodges, and will others if there is not 
a change in this direction. 

On the subject of finances, and the Supreme Lodge 
debt, he said : 

I had hoped there would have been paid into the exchequer 
of the S. L. the amounts due from several jurisdictions on the 
twenty-cent contribution. The money diverted from the 

*The report of the S. K. of R. and S. shows total additions, 11,198; 
loss, withdrawn, 1,287; deceased, 844 ; suspended, 15,003; total loss, 
17,134; present membership, 91,676. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 3I9 

current receipts two years ago to pay the old debt is very much 
needed now. The present stagnation in business has prevented 
progressive work in the Order to a great extent. Fewer sup- 
plies are ordered on which revenue is received, and as a result 
the receipts have fallen below that of former years. It certainly 
is not wise to stop all efforts to build up and extend our Order. 
And this cannot be carried on over this great continent, leaving 
out foreign countries, which should receive immediate attention, 
without money 

The S. K. of R. and S. also reported that a number of 
the Grand Jurisdictions had not paid their assessments for 
the liquidation of the Supreme Lodge debt, and that the 
work of the Order was greatly retarded thereby. 

The Order had enjoyed a freedom from all turmoils 
and vexatious troubles since the session of 1876, and 
peace had reigned throughout her borders. During the 
year the membership had an opportunity to exemplify 
their professions of friendship and benevolence. The 
yellow fever visited Savannah, Ga. , and the lodges in that 
city suffered severely from its ravages, not only from the 
sickness and death of many of the members, but all of their 
funds were exhausted, and they were compelled to call 
upon the Order for relief. How well that call" was answered 
is told by the Grand Lodge officers of Georgia in their 
report : 

The fraternity responded nobly to our call of distress, and in 
many instances used the medium of the electric flash to bear to 
us their precious sympathy and aid, and so bountiful were their 
offerings showered upon us, that very soon enough was con- 
tributed, not only to meet pressing needs caused by the terrible 
epidemic, in alleviating the sick and furnishing them with such 
comforts as were necessary, but also to enable us to provide for 
those special cases where natural protectors had fallen victims to 
the fatal scourge. 



320 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Never in the whole history of the Order has there come 
to it an appeal for suffering humanity that the prayer has 
not been heard and answered. It was during the session 
of 1877 that the Supreme Lodge adopted its present ' ■ Dec- 
laration of Principles," as given in Chapter VIII of this 
work. 

The most important of all the legislation at this session 
was the engrafting of the Endowment Rank upon the 
Order, and the taking of preliminary steps toward the 
formation of the Uniform Rank. 

From the Cleveland session on until after the Indian- 
apolis session of 1878 there was a gradual decrease in the 
membership of the Order. After that session the tide 
turned and the " clouds rolled by." The report of the S.K. 
R. and S. at the tenth annual session of the Supreme Lodge, 
held at Indianapolis, August, 1878, showed a total mem- 
bership of 85,788, a decrease of 6, 165 since the previous 
session. One great object, however, had been attained, 
the Supreme Lodge debt had been paid. 

With the session of 1878 closed the labors of S. S. 
Davis as S. C. , he having given four years of hard and 
untiring work for the Order. During this period he had 
visited every State and Territory of the United States 
where the Order had been established, and also the Can- 
adas. He took the reins of government into his hands in 
the dark days of the Order, when many had little faith in 
its ultimate success; at a time when the Supreme Lodge 
had a debt of $17,000, with no assets, bankrupt and all 
credit gone. He retired from office with a greatly de- 
creased membership, 'tis true, but it had only been cleansed 
from the dross ; the pure gold, tried and tested, remained ; 
the weak ones had fallen by the way, the strong in faith 
and hope were yet in the ranks. The debts had all been 
paid, confidence restored, and there was a balance of about 
$7,000 in cash and supplies to the credit of the Supreme 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 321 

Lodge. A severe task had been his ; nobly and well was 
it performed. A faithful officer, a noble and upright man, 
he fulfilled every duty, and was faithful to every trust con- 
fided to his care. 

STILLMAN SAMUEL DAVIS, 

The first of the Past Supreme Chancellors of the Order 
of Knights of Pythias called from the Temporal to the Eter- 
nal Lodge, was born October 14, 1826, at Dunstable, 
Massachusetts. His father being a farmer, he remained 
on the farm until 1844, when he went to Nashua, N. H., 
where he resided until his death, honored and respected 
by all. He had been fitted by education for an active 
business life, and soon after leaving the farm was engaged 
in large manufacturing interests. Failing health, caused by 
close application to business, caused his retirement for a 
short time, after which he took employment with a large 
corporation in Boston, but retained his residence in Nashua. 
He returned to business in Nashua in 1858, and remained 
until the breaking out of the late civil war, when he was 
commissioned as a Paymaster in the U. S. Navy, and 
remained in active service until the close of the war, being 
finally mustered out with an honorable record, December 
12, 1865. He was an active member of the Masonic and 
Odd Fellow fraternities, having risen to distinction in both 
Orders, but to the Order of Knights of Pythias he brought 
the ripest, choicest experience of a life well matured and 
fitted for the greatest possible usefulness. However much 
he may have prized the other fraternities of which he was 
a member, he gave his life's greatest devotion to the 
Knights of Pythias. When the trouble overtook the 
Supreme Lodge during the early years of its existence, he 
taught in his own Grand Jurisdiction the highest and truest 
loyalty to the Supreme body. As Grand Chancellor of 
his State, he placed the Order on a firm basis, with foun- 



322 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

dations deep-laid in friendship, with a charity that was a 
supreme love for men, and a benevolence that sought the 
highest and best good for all, forming the cement which 
united into one enduring structure every stone of our 
Pythian Castle. Step by step he advanced to the highest 
position in the Knights of Pythias, coming into the Supreme 
Chancellor's chair when most men would have shunned 
the great burden of care that the position entailed. Clouds 
were overhead, and the storm was threatening, filling the 
strongest hearted with gravest doubts concerning the fu- 
ture, but to him these troubles brought no fear ; as others 
grew fearful he became resolute; while his associates only 
raised their eyes to the clouds overhead, his eye of faith 
pierced the gloom and saw the sunlight beyond. While 
others shrank from the burdens imposed, there was no 
labor so severe that he did not come to the task with 
smiling face and cheering words to those who were about 
him. In all things he was a brave, manly man. 

" His life was gentle; and the elements 

So mixed in him, that nature might stand up 
And say to all the world — ' This is a man.' " 

While others founded the Order of Knights of Pythias, 
Stillman S. Davis will ever be remembered, honored, and 
revered as one of its saviors. The Supreme Lodge, at its 
session of 1886, placed on record the estimation in which 
his name is held by the Order, in so far as words can meas- 
ure the love of his brethren for him. * 

At the close of the session of the Supreme Lodge in 
1878 the following were the officers : S. S. Davis, Past 
Supreme Chancellor, Nashua, N. H.; D. B. Woodruff, 
Supreme Chancellor, Macon, Ga,; George W. Lindsay, 
Supreme Vice Chancellor, Baltimore, Md.; Rev. W. Bryce 
Thompson, Supreme Prelate, Nashville, Tenn.; John B. 
Stumph, Supreme Master of Exchequer, Indianapolis, Ind.; 

• See Chapter XVI. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



323 



Joseph Dowdall, Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal, 
Columbus, Ohio; Robinson Williams, Supreme Master 
at Arms, Portland, Maine; Thomas M. Fisher, Supreme 
Inner Guard, Cheyenne, Wy.; John W. Thompson, 
Supreme Outer Guard, Washington, D. C. 




324 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

1878— 1880. 

Administration of D. B. Woodruff— Yellow Fever Epidemic 1878 — 
Condition of the Order — Three Years of Endowment Rank — Uni- 
form Rank Established— D. B. Woodruff, Sketch of. 




*Q YEARS intervened between the 
tenth session of the Supreme Lodge, 
held in the city of Indianapolis, 
Indiana, and the eleventh session, 
which convened in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, Tuesday, August 24, 1880. 
This period embraced the adminis- 
tration of D. B. Woodruff) as Su- 
preme Chancellor. During the ses- 
sion of the Supreme Lodge at In- 
dianapolis, in 1878, the cry for assistance came up from 
the plague-stricken cities of the South. The epidemic of 
yellow fever had broken out in many places, notably in 
Memphis, Tennessee, and the sympathy of all our people 
went out to the citizens in the afflicted districts in their 
distress. 

The following telegrams and communications addressed 
to the Supreme Chancellor, and by him laid before 
the Supreme Lodge, will give an insight into the great 

calamity : 

New Orleans, La., August 6, 1878. 
S. S. Davis, S. C. 

Fever raging. Aid needed badly. Do your utmost for us. 

J. C. Beard, D. S. C. 




DAVID B. WOODRUFF, 

Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 325 

New Orleans, August i, 1878. 
S. S. Davis, Supreme Chancellor, Nashua, N. H. 

Dear Sir and Bro. : I enclose a resolution passed by the 
Lodge at its last meeting, and would most earnestly ask your 
immediate action, as we have now several members sick, with a 
likelihood of many more being stricken down. We have already 
exhausted nearly all of our means, and I trust you will aid us all 
you can. Yellow fever is increasing to an alarming extent daily. 
Any contributions can be directed to me at No. 124 Carondolet 
street. I remain, in F., C. and B., yours, 

J. C. Beard, D. S. C. 

Castle Hall, Orleans Lodge, No. i, K. of P., | 
New Orleans, July 30, 1878. } 

J. C. Beard, D. S. C. 

Dear Sir and Bro.: The officers and members of this 
Lodge do most earnestly call your attention to the alarming 
extent to which yellow fever is prevailing in our city, and in- 
creasing daily. 

In view of the fact that we are on the eve of a terrible epi- 
demic, that several of our brothers are at present afflicted, the 
following motion was made, duly seconded, and unanimously 
adopted : 

' ' That the Deputy Supreme Chancellor of this Jurisdiction be 
requested to inform the Supreme Chancellor of the World of the 
foregoing facts, and praying for whatever aid our sister Lodges 
can give us, to relieve us, in this our hour of distress and sore 
affliction." Fraternally yours, 

J. B. Morrow, K. of R. and S. 

August 26th, telegram : 
To S. S. Davis, S. C. 

Buried two members. Several down. Aid needed badly. 

August 2 2d, from Memphis, Tenn.: 

Dear Sir and Bro. : We are in the midst of death, pesti- 
lence and want, and we appeal to the Order, through its head, 



326 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

for help, as we are in great need. We have several down with 
fever now. Shall we be denied? 

H. S. Reynolds, G. C. 

Also, from Vicksburg, Miss. : 

Our people scourged with yellow fever. Will members of the 
Supreme Lodge contribute to our assistance ? 

On presenting these telegrams and letters to the 
Supreme Lodge, Supreme Chancellor S. S. Davis said : 

I would recommend that you order a circular issued at once, 
requesting liberal contributions from all lodges and members, for 
the relief of our distressed brethren and their families in these 
cities. I would also recommend that all moneys be sent to the 
S. K. of R. and S. , and forwarded to the several localities by him 
as may be required, from such funds only as may be contributed. 
I would request immediate action, and that circulars be sent out 
from this city. 

The entire subject was referred to the Committee on 
the State of the Order, with the following result : 

The Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was 
referred the various appeals from the yellow fever sufferers, 
would report, that after carefully considering the same, they are 
of the opinion that the prayers of the petitioners should be com- 
plied with, and your committee would recommend the adoption 
of the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the Supreme Chancellor issue at once a relief circular 
urging and requesting liberal contributions from all Lodges and members 
throughout the World, in aid of our distressed brethren and their fami- 
lies. Your committee would also recommend that all moneys so realized 
from such contributions be forwarded to the Supreme Keeper of Records 
and Seal, to be by him disbursed to the several localities in need thereof. 

The resolution was adopted, and in accordance there- 
with Supreme Chancellor Davis, on the 29th of August, 
1878, issued a circular to the Order, calling for assistance 
for the sufferers. While the action of the Supreme Lodge 
on this subject pertained to the administration of the 
then Supreme Chancellor, Davis, the work that was done 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 32/ 

thereunder, and the results, belong to the administration of 
D. B. Woodruff. The responses to the call were liberal. 
Throughout the entire Supreme Jurisdiction, lodges con- 
tributed from their funds ; others not only did this, but also 
by entertainments, concerts, and otherwise, greatly increased 
the funds for the aid of the brethren. The instructions to 
send all sums of money to the S. K. of R. and S. were 
not strictly complied with, many of the lodges sending 
■direct to the cities of the South. This call was made, too, 
just as the various lodges had finished their payment of 
the special levy that had been made to relieve the Supreme 
Lodge from debt. The sum raised and forwarded to the 
S. K. of R. and S. amounted to $8,833.61. 

The following extracts from the report of the S. K. of 
R. and S. are worthy a place here. He says, under date 
of November 25, 1878 : 

On the sixth day of September, the first contributions were 
received from Texas, coming simultaneously from two points. 
R. P. Annspaugh, Grand Chancellor, telegraphed $52 from 
Dallas; and R. E. Luhn, G. K. of R. andS., telegraphed $42. 50 
from Brenham. On the same day I forwarded $200 to the Grand 
Chancellor of Mississippi, and $100 to the Grand Chancellor of 
Tennessee — both by telegraph. On the 9th of September I ad- 
vanced $900 — sending $300 each to Tennessee, Mississippi and 
New Orleans — telegrams having been received that they were in 
need. By the middle of September contributions were received 
fast enough to replace what I had advanced, and to furnish our 
suffering brethren with means to supply their wants. 

Nearly all the money forwarded was paid by telegraph, with- 
out any cost, thus enabling me to remit to sufferers as soon as the 
money was received. 

The many kind expressions of sympathy for our distressed 
brethren, that came in the letters forwarding contributions, the 
inquiry or request, "Call on us for more, if necessary," could 
they be published in this report, would show the world the spirit 
of benevolence that pervades our membership — a universal 



328 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

benevolence — coupled with that charity and friendship which 
binds us in one unbroken bond, and teaches that "'tis sweet to 
die for those we love." May the same true spirit of Pythian 
friendship forever bind together the membership of our knightly 
Order. 

Oahu Lodge, No. 1, located at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 
contributed $226.75, t0 be specially applied to the assistance of 
the lodges in Memphis; and Eureka Lodge, No. 5, of Pawtucket, 
Rhode Island, made a similar request, both of which were com- 
plied with. 

The following expression of thanks from Orleans Lodge, 
No. 1, of New Orleans, will portray the sentiments and feelings 
of its members toward those who have contributed to their relief: 

Castle Hall, \ 

Orleans Lodge, No. i, Knights of Pythias, >• 

New Orleans, La., November 5, 1878. J 

REGULAR WEEKLY MEETING. 

It was moved, seconded, and unanimously carried, that a committee 
of three be appointed by the Chancellor Commander, to draft suitable 
and appropriate expressions of thanks to the officers and members of the 
Supreme Lodge of the World of Knights of Pythias, and through them 
to all Grand and Subordinate Lodges of Knights of Pythias throughout 
the world. 

On motion, the Chancellor Commander was added to said committee. 
And the committee was composed of the undersigned Knights of Orleans 
Lodge, No. 1, K. of P. 

The committee, after consultation and deliberation, presented the 
following report as an attempt to express the thanks of this Lodge. The 
report of the committee was received and unanimously adopted, the com- 
mittee discharged, and the Chancellor Commander requested to forward 
a copy of these proceedings to the Supreme Chancellor of the World : 

We, the undersigned committee, to whom was referred the subject 
matter of tendering the thanks of the officers and members of Orleans 
Lodge, No. 1, K. of P., of New Orleans, as well as the thanks of the entire 
membership and Brotherhood of the Order throughout the State of 
Louisiana, to the 'brethren of the Order throughout the world, for their 
noble, generous, brotherly, and material aid and succor in the hour of our 
great distress and pecuniary want, beg leave to make the following report, 
and if the same be approved by this Lodge, then that the Chancellor 
Commander of this Lodge do forthwith transmit a copy of this report and 
these proceedings to the Supreme Chancellor of the World, requesting 
him to make known our thanks and gratitude to all Grand and Subordinate 
Lodges throughout the world. 

The Order of Knights of Pythias, in Louisiana, for several years last 
past, had diminished in membership, and a lukewarmness amongst the re- 
maining members seemed to prevail until about the beginning of this year, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



329 



when new life and energy seemed to have sprung up amongst the Broth- 
erhood, and at about the time of the general appearance of the distressing 
epidemic we have just passed through, Orleans Lodge, No. 1, had a mem- 
bership of about ninety Knights; Crescent Lodge, No. 3, a membership 
of about fifty Knights ; and Damon Lodge, No. 2, had a membership of 
about fifty Knights. The epidemic of yellow fever came; want and 
distress were at nearly every brother's door; the extremities of human 
misery were illustrated with grim and ghastly effect, and the poor of our 
Brotherhood could no longer sustain themselves; all business in New 
Orleans and vicinity was stifled, and her industries were paralyzed. The 
Brotherhood were visited with the yellow fever scourge, and many of 
them, their wives and children, departed this life, and are now angels in 
the Supreme Lodge above, the home of all good Knights of Pythias. 
Just at the time when the brethren were in the greatest distress, when 
the whole people were frightened by the epidemic to such an extent as to 
be panic-stricken; whilst the dead, who had fallen by the scourge, were 
being carried to the cemeteries in continuous and almost unbroken funeral 
processions; and at a time when every heart was full of anxiety, and 
every soul praying to God for mercy and help ; then, thank Heaven, the 
united, never- flinching, charitable, always ready, benevolent, loving, 
brotherly and heaven-born Order of Knights of Pythias, through the 
Supreme Chancellor and Supreme Officers of the Supreme Lodge of the 
World, extended their helping hand, and gave us that aid and assistance, 
without which many more of the brethren, their wives and children, 
would have undoubtedly succumbed to the prevailing scourge. Fourteen 
hundred dollars may seem small in amount, but the good it has accom- 
plished among the brethren in Louisiana is incalculable. The word 
" thanks" does not express our gratitude — in fact, language is inadequate 
to express the heart-felt gratitude of our brethren in Louisiana to our 
brethren of other jurisdictions throughout the world, for their kindness 
and material aid in our time of need and great distress. 
We shall ever remember you kindly. 

Ah ! we'll remember how ye rose, 

O generous Knights and true, 
As one to soothe our pains and woes; 

Yes — we'll remember you ! 

You poured your treasures, generous Knights; 

They flowed in billows here ; 
From Chancellor Supreme all right, 

To save, protect, and cheer. 

You heard a wail upon the air, 

From Brothers' homes it came ; 
" Enough ! we'll with them freely share 

Our fortunes and our fame." 

You gave us help to check " grim death," 

The sinews strong of war ; 
And with them we have stop'd his breath, 

And driv'n the fiend afar ! 



330 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Yours have cured the sick, fed the poor — 
The dying, soothed them, too ; 

Our dead have buried. On each door 
Read — " Blessings rest on you! " 



Fraternally yours, in F., C. and B., 

Committee. 



P. C. R. King Cutler, Chairman 
P. C. and C. C. P. H. Lewis, 
P. C. Hugo Fredericks, 
C. W. Buchanan, 



To the report, and as a part thereof, the S. K. of R. 
and S. adds a list of each and every lodge that contributed 
to the relief, stating the amount from each. 

At the session of the Supreme Lodge in 1880 the 
S. K. of R. and S. made an additional report of aid fur- 
nished. He says: 

Under date of January 20, 1879, Brother T. E. Wilson, of 
the Relief Committee at Memphis, wrote me, asking assistance, 
as they were in debt. With the approval of the Supreme Chan- 
cellor, I forwarded Brother Wilson $100, which was received by 
him January 26th. 

On the 2 2d of October, 1876, I received the following from 
the Grand Chancellor of Tennessee : 



Grand Lodge of Tennessee, K. of P., 

Office of the Grand Chancellor, 

Lebanon, October 20, 1879, P. P. XVI 



.} 



Joseph Dowdall, S. A", of R. and S., Columbus, Ohio. 

Dear Sir and Brother:— I am to-day in receipt, of a letter from 
Brother A. D. LangstafF, chairman K. P. Relief Committee, Memphis, in 
which he informs me that the committee has expended, for physicians, 
nurses, medicines and supplies, all the funds on hand, besides incurring 
an indebtedness of about five hundred dollars, and appealing to me for 
aid — this being the first appeal made since the beginning of the present 
epidemic, the Order in Memphis having contributed enough to supply 
the Relief Committee up to this time. Brother W. B. Thompson, 
G. K. R. S., who passed through this city to-day, informed me that when 
he saw you recently at Indianapolis, you had on hand about three hundred 
dollars, balance of the fund contributed by the Order at large for the 
relief of yellow fever sufferers last year. I respectfully suggest that the 
best possible disposition which could be made of this fund is to use it to 
supply the needs of the Memphis Relief Committee ; and I ask that you 
forward it to Brother Thompson, at Nashville, notifying me of the fact, so 
that I can instruct the chairman of the committee at Memphis to draw 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



331 



on Brother Thompson. We can make up the balance of the $500 asked 
for in this jurisdiction — but, as you are aware, the Order in this State is 
numerically small, and I do not want to call on them for any more contri- 
butions than are absolutely necessary. 

I hope that you will coincide with my view of this matter, and that 
I shall hear from you at once. Faithfully and fraternally, 

R. L. C. White, 

G. C. Tennessee. 

On the same day I forwarded a draft on New York for 
$3 2 3-75 to W. B. Thompson, G. K. of R. and S. of Tennessee, 
who acknowledged its receipt under date of October 29th, "for 
relief of Knights of Pythias in Memphis suffering from yellow 
fever." 

It is but just, in this connection, that credit should be 
given to S. K. of R. and S. Dowdall for the part he him- 
self took in the work of relief for the afflicted brethren. 
Knowing that their needs were immediate and pressing, 
he advanced a thousand dollars from his own private 
means, trusting to the generosity and benevolence of the 
Knighthood to reimburse him by their contributions, which 
was afterward done, it is true, but his promptness shows 
the kind and loving heart he bore. The conduct of the 
lodges in this emergency illustrated fully the fact that the 
principles and tenets of the Order were fully understood by 
those who gathered about its altars. 

THE CONDITION OF THE ORDER, 

As presented in the statistical statements compiled from 
the Annual Reports of the Grand Lodges, shows that 
during the year 1878 the membership had decreased 
from 85,310, as shown by the Annual Report of December 
31, 1877, to 84,772. For the year 1879 tne statistics re- 
ported by all the Grand Jurisdictions show an increase of 
membership except in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, Ontario and Nevada. 
Those seven jurisdictions show an aggregate loss of 2,699 
members, while the other twenty-seven jurisdictions show 



332 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

an aggregate gain of 5,642 members, making the net gain 
of membership in all the jurisdictions 2,943, and a total 
membership of 87, 7 1 5 . Yet, without regard to the increase 
or decrease of membership, the financial condition of all 
the jurisdictions shows a decided improvement over past 
years. More attention had been given to the Order by 
the Grand Officers in their respective jurisdictions. More 
solidity had been given to the financial condition of the 
Subordinate Lodges, and a fixed determination had taken 
hold of the membership to strengthen, uphold, and make 
permanent our knightly Order. The capital of the lodges 
had greatly increased. The amount paid for relief during 
these two fiscal years was four hundred and seventy-seven 
thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars and eighty -jive 
cents. This was the work of an average of 85,000 mem- 
bers, divided among 1,400 lodges. 

S. K. of R. and S. Dowdall sums up the condition of 
the Order, past and present, in his report to the Supreme 
Lodge, 1880, in the following words: 

Having reported upon all the duties pertaining to my office, 
I hope it will not be considered improper to refer to the present 
condition of the Supreme Lodge, in comparison with the gloomy 
prospect that stared you in the face at the Pittsburg session, in 
April, 1874. Then, your present financial officers received 
$68.61 in cash from their predecessors, with which to commence 
the payment of an unknown quantity of liabilities, estimated to 
be about $16,000, by your FinaDcial Committee, of which your 
present Supreme Chancellor was chairman, and your present 
Supreme Master of Exchequer was a member. Now you meet 
in session with $12,357.59 cash in your exchequer, $2,506.18 of 
stock, or supplies, on hand at their cost value, for sale at your 
established rates, and personal property worth $4,596; making 
in all a capital of $19,459.87. Your liabilities are Ten Dollars 
and Fifteen Cents. The great army of valiant Knights, who 
came to your rescue — who redeemed the Supreme Lodge from 
the very verge of bankruptcy by their contributions — who had 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



333 



confidence in those you placed in executive positions — expect 
you to guard well your finances, to protect their rights and 
interests, and by strong, conservative legislation to uphold the 
grand banner of Pythianism against the wiles and designs of its 
enemies, and spread broadcast, all over the world, the great 
virtues of our Order. May their expectations be realized, and 
the legislation of this session result in the greatest good to all. 

There had surely been a rift in the clouds, and the sun- 
light was beginning to shine through. The light must have 
been especially welcome to such men as Past Supreme Chan- 
cellors Read, Berry, and Davis, and their faithful and hopeful 
associates who had stood by their sides during all the trying 
ordeals through which they had passed. The Founder of 
the Order also could now see that his labor was to result in 
permanent good to humanity. Never had an organization 
been more sorely tried and tested than had this one, but 
it had come through it all triumphant, and seemed now 
just starting on a noble and prosperous career. 

THE ENDOWMENT RANK 

Had now completed its third year, and its success had en- 
listed the earnest desires of many of the members of the 
Supreme Lodge. The session of 1880 was but a sample 
of the immense amount of legislation that is presented at 
each meeting of the Supreme Lodge in its behalf, whether 
needed or not " deponent saith not. " At this session over 
sixty documents, in the form of appeals, resolutions, 
amendments to its Constitution, etc., were presented for 
the consideration of the Supreme body, consuming the 
greater portion of the session. The greatest danger to the 
Endowment Rank, and to the Order at large, by reason of 
this Rank, is the vast amount of legislation that is had or 
proposed on its behalf. The great amount of talk about 
needed (?) legislation thereon will, sooner or later, if it has 
not done it to a very great extent already, bring about a 



334 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

feeling of distrust and fear concerning this Rank. At the 
time of which we write (August, 1880,) warrants had been 
issued for four hundred and fifty sections of this Rank, 
with 21,685 certificates in force in both classes, and there 
had been paid on deaths of those who had held certificates 
$396,577.00, an amount greatly in excess of what should 
have been paid in a thoroughly organized and regulated 
life insurance association. But of the Endowment Rank 
more anon. 

The Supreme Lodge at the session of 1878 appointed 
a special Committee on Uniform Rank, with power to 
prepare a Ritual, Constitution and General Laws for the 
government and control of that Rank. The committee 
performed its work, and on November 1, 1878, the Su- 
preme Chancellor, by circular, announced the fact and 
authorized the instituting of Divisions, and up to the date of 
the St. Louis session fifty-four warrants had been issued. 
The fact of the organization is only briefly alluded to here, 
for the reason that it was first instituted during the admin- 
istration of D. B. Woodruff as S. C, and is a part of the 
history which he aided in making, for he in person insti- 
tuted quite a number of the first Divisions organized. The 
writer remembers with great vividness the fact of Supreme 
Chancellor Woodruff coming from his southern home in 
December, 1878, to institute Lafayette Division, No. 1, of 
Indiana. The mercury stood 15 below zero, the trains 
were delayed, and the Supreme Chancellor arrived at his 
destination at midnight. The embryo Division was in 
waiting in the lodge-room. A committee was at the 
depot and received the S. C. on his arrival, and conducted 
him to the hall. The Division was instituted, and the 
banquet, which should have been disposed of at 1 1 p. m., 
was partaken of by the Supreme Chancellor and the newly 
instituted Division at 3 a. m. The cold outside did not 
affect the cheer within the banquet room. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



335 



The officers elected at this session of the Supreme 
Lodge were Geo. W. Lindsay, Supreme Chancellor, 
Baltimore, Md. ; John P. Linton, Supreme Vice Chan- 
cellor, Johnstown, Pa. ; W. Bryce Thompson, Supreme 
Prelate, Nashville, Tenn. ; John B. Stumph, Supreme 
Master of Exchequer, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Joseph Dowdall, 
Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal, Columbus, Ohio ; 
J. Rufus Smith, Supreme Master at Arms, Berkely Springs, 
W. Va ; Geo. B. Shaw, Supreme Inner Guard, Eau Claire, 
Wis. ; John W. Thompson, Supreme Outer Guard, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 



DAVID BENJAMIN WOODRUFF, P. S. C. 

Was born on the 23d day of April, 1829, at Orange, New 
Haven County, Connecticut. His early life was spent 
amid the quiet of a New England farmer's home. At the 
age of sixteen he was entered as an apprentice to a car- 
penter and builder in New Haven, Conn. Prior to this 
date his opportunities to learn or know much of the world 
had been very limited, and he had received only a 
common school education. Changing from a quiet home 
in the country to the stirring, busy scenes of a large and 
growing city, he soon saw the necessity of a more thorough 
training and education, that he might be fitted for any cast 
of character that might be assigned him in the world's 
great play. He connected himself at once with a night- 
school, where he studied the English branches and draw- 
ing, and had the benefit of a large library, which he laid, 
under heavy contributions, and it was during this appren- 
ticeship that a character was formed that has stamped him 
as a thoroughly active and energetic man of business, and 
by his thoughtful and studious habits, supported by a 
strong intellect, he is recognized as a leader among his 
fellow-men. 



33^ PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

In the fall of 1849 ne embarked for California (a regular 
Cape Horn "forty-niner"), but returned to Connecticut in 
185 1, after making a tour of the western South American 
States. 

In 1854 he moved to Georgia, and entered upon a suc- 
cessful career as a contractor and builder, erecting a large 
manufactory and planing mills to facilitate his business. 

Upon the breaking out of the late civil war, Mr. Wood- 
ruff took sides with his adopted State, entered the service 
in April, 1861, and was among the first troops ordered to 
Virginia, which soon became the great theatre of hostilities. 
At the close of the war he found himself financially ruined. 
He resumed his former business, but soon abandoned it 
for the practice of architecture, which profession he has 
since followed. 

For over a quarter of a century he has been associated 
with Odd Fellowship, and has been a faithful worker, and 
with untiring zeal has endeavored to illustrate the genius 
of Odd Fellowship and extend its domain, filling nearly 
every office in his Subordinate and Grand Lodge, and 
representing Georgia in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the 
United States. 

In April, 1870, he was initiated into the Order of 
Knights of Pythias, as a charter member of Central City 
Lodge, No. 3, of Macon, Ga., and was elected its first 
Chancellor Commander. 

On September I, 1870, he was commissioned by Su- 
preme Chancellor Samuel Read as Deputy Grand Chan- 
cellor for the States of Georgia and Florida. 

At the organization of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, 
March, 1871, he was chosen as Grand Chancellor, and 
thrice re-elected, and also elected a Representative to the 
Supreme Lodge, taking his seat in that body at its third 
annual session at Philadelphia, on the 18th day of April, 
1 87 1, and was recognized by the Supreme Chancellor, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 337 

who named him as the chairman of the special and very- 
important committee of seven, to whom was referred the 
subject of Conclaves of S. P. K. , and the troubles in the 
Order of Knights of Pythias growing out of Conclaves in 
the jurisdiction of Maryland, District of Columbia, and 
elsewhere. 

At the fourth annual session of the Supreme Lodge, 
held in Baltimore, 1872, he appeared again as a Repre- 
sentative of his State for two years, and received a very 
flattering vote in the election of officers, for Supreme 
Banker (now S. M. of E.) 

He was appointed chairman of the Committee of Fi- 
nance for 1873, by Supreme Chancellor Berry, and re-ap- 
pointed for 1874. 

At the sixth annual session of the Supreme Lodge, 
held in Pittsburg, Pa., 1874, he was elected Supreme 
Vice Chancellor. 

At the eighth annual session held in Philadelphia, Pa., 
in 1876, he was re-elected Supreme Vice Chancellor, and 
at the tenth session held in Indianapolis, in 1878, he was 
elected Supreme Chancellor, which office he filled for two 
years, surrendering the trust after a successful administra- 
tion, at the St. Louis session, in 1880. He has been in 
constant attendance upon every session of the Supreme 
Lodge since, appearing at the fourteenth session in To- 
ronto last year as a Supreme Representative from Georgia, 
by appointment, to fill the unexpired term of R. R. 
Richards, resigned. In addition to having served his 
Grand Lodge for two terms as Grand Chancellor, he 
also filled the office of G. K. of R. and S. for five 
years. In his Subordinate Lodge he is an active, earn- 
est worker, having no inclination to step down and out 
to rest under honors so richly bestowed upon him. 
Brother Woodruff is by nature social in his disposition ; 
once he has formed an attachment he stands firm and true 



338 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



through good report and evil report, believing in the 
better side of humanity, and that though a man may 
sometimes err, a true friend may ofttimes redeem and save. 
Like a true philanthropist, he finds the highest enjoyment 
when laboring for the advancement of his fellow-men, and 
because of his love for humanity he is an earnest advocate 
of the benevolent fraternities, believing that the principles 
which underlie their superstructure emanate from those 
higher and purer sentiments implanted in man by the 
Deity himself, which causes us to recognize the Father- 
hood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. 

Brother Woodruff is an independent thinker, a ready 
writer, and gifted speaker. His love for the Order of 
Knights of Pythias is strong and pure, and his devotion to 
its principles is constant and unchanging. May he live 
long to enjoy the fruits of his own labors, and that of his 
associates in the good work, and rejoice with us all in its 
progress and triumphs. 











GEO. W. LINDSAY, 



Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



339 



CHAPTER XIV. 

1880— 1882. 

Administration of S. C. George W. Lindsay — Prosperity of the 
Order — Grand Lodges of Arkansas and Oregon Instituted — 
Obituary, Joseph Dowdall, S. K. of R. and S. — William Bryce 
Thompson, Supreme Prelate — Hugh Latham, S. M. A. — Joseph 
T. K. Plant, P. S. C— Ritual Revised— Sketch of Life of George 
W. Lindsay, P. S. C. 




SELECTING its officers at the session 
of 1880, the Supreme Lodge elected 
Judge George W. Lindsay as Supreme 
Chancellor. Upon being inducted into 
office, after thanking the Supreme 
Lodge for the honor, he then, in a few 
words, outlined his purposes during 
his term of office. He said : 

Officers and Representatives of the Supreme 
Lodge, Knights of Pythias of the World. 

Brethren — When I say that language is inadequate to express 
the deep emotions of gratitude toward you, for the high honor 
conferred upon me at your hands, I but utter the truest senti- 
ments of my heart. 

I stand before you on this occasion as the man selected by 
you to preside over the destinies of this great and noble organiza- 
tion for the space of two years; and I most deeply feel and 
appreciate the responsibilities which, during that period, by your 
decision, rest upon me ; and I also experience that, which under 
ordinary circumstances it is impossible to appreciate, namely, 
the necessity of the kind co-operation of each and every menVber 



34° PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of this Supreme Lodge, to secure the future success, prosperity, 
and usefulness of this our noble Order of Knights of Pythias. 

The past of the Order is now a matter of history. Its trials 
and triumphs, its sorrows and rejoicings, have been written on its 
pages to serve as beacons in the future. Its present is ours — our 
especial care — but its future must be provided for, and therefore 
requires our most serious consideration, and should receive our 
most earnest co-operation, in order that that future may be a 
bright and glorious example of Pythian tenets and principles. 

Permit me to assure you, Supreme Representatives, that so 
far as I am concerned, all the best services at my command shall 
be rendered in the discharge of theduties of the office of Supreme 
Chancellor; and nothing shall be left undone, on my part, to 
return to you the escutcheon of the Supreme Lodge as spotless 
and untarnished as I receive it at the hands of my illustrious 
predecessor. 

Impartiality, firm determination to discharge the duties im- 
posed upon me, and an earnest desire to increase its prosperity, 
and extend its usefulness, shall be my rule of action ; and no. 
labor will be esteemed too difficult, no sacrifice too great for me, 
to at least attempt to secure this result. 

More than this I cannot say, but I feel that with your assist- 
ance, and the present stronghold the Order has upon the affec- 
tions of its members, I shall, at the expiration of my term of 
office, be able to say that, although perhaps not "abed of roses," 
its duties have been rendered easy, and its business light. 

Never in the history of the Order had the Representa- 
tives of the Knights of Pythias, assembled in its highest 
counsels, shown a greater disposition to work for the 
objects outlined by Judge Lindsay in his inaugural address, 
nor had there been a time when the future appeared so full 
of promise. The Order was two years and over removed 
from the period of its great and severe struggle for exist- 
ence, and during that time had by its acts commended 
itself to the world by the worthy history it had made in 
the relief of suffering and distress. This chapter of its 
history drew to it the kind-hearted and philanthropic, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



341 



while its record for honesty and honor in the payment of 
its obligations enlisted in its cause the best class of busi- 
ness men, and to still another class it recommended itself 
because of the heroic struggle its members had made in 
the great battles against adversity and the final wresting of 
victory from the very jaws of defeat. The class of men 
who appreciate moral bravery and courage, such as was 
shown by the membership during the period from 1872 to 
1878, are those whose friendship and support we should 
ever seek to secure. All these we had interested in the 
Pythian cause, and they had already begun to flock to our 
standards. The fields were beginning to whiten for the 
harvest. The close of the eleventh session of the Supreme 
Lodge also marked the beginning of a revival of interest 
on the part of the membership that has continued from 
that day to the present, gathering increased force year by 
year, as the Pythian Army, under able and honorable 
leaders, has been led into broader and richer fields for 
conquest. 

Though the time when Brother Lindsay entered upon 
his duties was specially auspicious, and though there was 
not a cloud in our sky, he brought to the discharge of the 
duties of his office a mind richly stored with honorable 
and useful experience among his fellow-men, and in kin- 
dred societies. Not only this, but he entered upon his 
work with an energy and zeal that was especially needed 
for the management, guidance and leadership of such an 
army as he commanded. He was fully in accord with the 
progressive theories of the Order, and gave to each partic- 
ular branch and department of the Knights of Pythias no 
half-hearted or stinted assent, but on the contrary he 
entered heartily into every worthy plan and purpose. 

The advance of the Order in all its branches during his 
administration shows not only that he was in earnest in 
the work, but that his executive ability was commensurate 



34 2 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

with his desire to render service that should be productive 
of good to the entire body of Knights of Pythias. 

When he was inducted into the office of Supreme 
Chancellor there was a total membership in the Supreme 
Jurisdiction of 89, 315. At the close of his first year as 
Supreme Chancellor the number had grown to 95,994; 
there had been a net gain of fifty-three Sections of the 
Endowment Rank, and twenty-two Divisions of the Uni- 
form Rank ; there had been instituted twenty new Sub- 
ordinate Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Supreme 
Lodge, and one Grand Lodge, that of Arkansas, instituted 
June 22, 1 88 1. The success that attended this adminis- 
tration through its first year continued through its second 
year, for we find that when the Supreme Lodge met in 
the city of Detroit, August 22, 1882, that being the ses- 
sion at which the term of Judge Lindsay as Supreme Chan- 
cellor expired, another Grand Lodge had been established, 
that of Oregon, instituted November 8, 1881, and through- 
out the Supreme Jurisdiction the membership had reached 
a total of 1 10,903 ; there had been granted thirty warrants 
for Divisions in the Uniform Rank, making a total of fifty- 
two during his term of office, although they had not all 
been instituted ; there had been a corresponding increase 
in the Sections of the Endowment Rank, notwithstanding 
the fact that in that Rank there had been quite a large 
number of Sections suspended from various causes. The 
financial condition of the Supreme Lodge had improved to 
such an extent that on July 31, 1882, just prior to the 
meeting of the Supreme Lodge, there was a balance on 
hand of $21,535.66. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the two years which 
closed with August, 1882, were the brightest years of the 
Order up to that date, yet they had not been without their 
cares and sorrows. Never in the history of the Knights 
of Pythias, either before or since, were so many deaths of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



343 



prominent members of the Order recorded. Chiefest among 
those who passed away was Joseph Dowdall, S. K. of R. 
and S. His life in the Order is worth more than a passing 
mention in these pages. Mention has already been made 
elsewhere of his active support, not only in the actual dis- 
charge of his official duties, but in financial aid he gave to 
Supreme Chancellors Berry and Davis, when bankruptcy 
threatened the destruction of the Order ; also how his heart 
went out in sympathy to the stricken brothers of the South 
in 1878, to such an extent that he advanced money from 
his own private funds for their relief, not waiting for con- 
tributions to come in. These acts showed him to be a man 
who was fully in earnest both in his work and his sympa- 
thy. The tribute paid to Joseph Dowdall at the memo- 
rial service of the Supreme Lodge, session of 1882, by 
Supreme Representative Douglass, so fully portrays the 
life and character of the deceased, that it is worthy of 
preservation here, first giving the resolutions which were 
presented and adopted by the Supreme Lodge, to wit : 

Whereas, Joseph Dowdall, our late Supreme Keeper of Records 
and Seal, is dead ; 

And Whereas, By his virtues, his social qualities, his great abil- 
ity, his public spirit, and high-toned sentiment he had endeared him- 
self to all who knew him ; by his upright, manly course he has left 
an impress upon us that he died as he had lived — an honest man, the 
noblest work of God. In all work for the benefit of our Order he was 
always foremost, his hand was never shut to the needy and meritorious, 
and the young and enterprising always found in him a fast friend. In 
his death the Order has sustained a loss that will be felt throughout 
its entire extent. Finally, we feel that his place can never be rilled, 
for he occupied as a Knight, as a man, and as a friend, all that a man 
can occupy in any community. He merited and had acquired the 
confidence, esteem, and friendship of all ; therefore be it 

Resolved, That we bear willing testimony to the great ability and 
fidelity with which Joseph Dowdall fulfilled the high trusts confided 
to him by our Order ; that in his death our Order has lost a true and 
loyal son, and her dearest rights and interests a bold and eloquent 
defender. 

Resolved, That while painfully lamenting this, (the memory of his 
many virtues and good works alone remaining to us, ) we will ever 
recall with mournful pleasure the frank and genial nature, high-toned 



344 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

character and gallant and chivalric bearing which made Joseph Dow- 
dall welcome to every heart and home and the meetings of this 
Supreme Lodge. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the 
family of deceased. 

Supreme Representative (since Supreme Chancellor) 
Howard Douglass rose in his place, and addressed the 
the Supreme Lodge : 

tl For behold the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, doth take away from Jeru- 
salem and from Judah the stay and the staff * * * ; the mighty man 
and the man of war; the judge and the prophet and the prudent ; the 
captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the 
cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator." — Isaiah, Hi, i-j. 

Supreme Chancellor, Officers and Representatives of the Supreme 
Lodge of the Order of the Knights of Pythias : 

I feel wholly incompetent to say anything befitting the pres- 
ent occasion. It is a sad one to all of us, and particularly so to 
myself and those occupying the same relation to the distinguished 
man whose death we mourn. At the same time, it is not inap- 
propriate to state some things respecting the deceased which 
attached to him the Grand Jurisdiction of Ohio, and made our 
affection for him as strong as the respect which we cherished for 
his great ability and his unsullied integrity. 

Brother Joseph Dowdall first became identified with the Order 
about the first day of May, 1869, when at the Burnet House, in 
the city of Cincinnati, he received the obligations from, and was 
instructed in the secret work by, Supreme Chancellor Samuel 
Read, who created him a Past Chancellor on sight, and immedi- 
ately commissioned him Deputy Supreme Chancellor. He pro- 
ceeded at once to the organization of lodges and with the work 
of establishing the Order on a solid foundation in the State of 
Ohio. He was elected, on the organization of the Grand Lodge 
of Ohio, to the position of Grand Recording and Corresponding 
Scribe (now G. K. of R. and S.), which he held until his death. 
The Supreme Lodge elected him a member thereof for merito- 
rious services in March, 1870, and on the 23d day of April, 1874, 
he was elected Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal. 




JOSEPH DOWDALL, 

Supreme Keeper Records and Seal. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 345 

You are all well aware of the valuable services rendered your 
Supreme Lodge prior to and after his election, and it is therefore 
needless to repeat. 

Brother Dowdall was a self-made man. From the foot of the 
ladder he ascended, climbing step by step, slowly but surely, and 
the success of his whole career was not owing to any luck or for- 
tune, but must be attributed, under Providence, to the quali- 
ties he possessed in a remarkable degree, of economy, integrity, 
judgment, decision of character, punctuality, and unbounded ener- 
gy and industry. This bright example to our members, of the 
success attending well-directed energies, has now passed away. 
In his death our Order has lost a pillar of strength, the com- 
munity in which he lived a wise and public-spirited citizen, 
obscure and struggling merit a head to advise and a hand to 
help, and the distressed and needy a generous friend, whose 
pity extended to the most forlorn. He was a strong character, 
not always understood ; prompt in action, but often slow to speak, 
thinking much and biding his time ; not forward to volunteer or 
obtrude his counsel, but giving his opinion when sought, or when 
needed, in few words — clear, sententious, comprehensive. Under- 
neath the blunt outside man were to be found a loving, human 
heart, sensibilities of unfathomed depth — a soul devising the most 
generous deeds and capable of the sublimest of all virtues — justice 
and impartiality. An occasional abruptness or sharpness of man- 
ner might be seen on a transient acquaintance, but it was for 
those who knew the man to appreciate him ,in the justice of his 
nature, in the unassuming simplicity of his character, in the 
patience of his labor, in the quiet, unostentatious streams of his 
charity, and his good-will to man. By his example, as well as 
words, he speaks through his long life, and, being dead, he yet 
speaketh. Among the sterling qualities that gave him success 
in life, we name, prominently, decision of character. The first 
element in decision of character is reliance on our own judgment, 
and the second is that energy of will and enthusiasm of the pas- 
sions which, when a wise plan is selected, immediately spring 
into active power of execution. These were conspicuous elements 
in his character. He had confidence in his own judgment, and 
did his own thinking in all practical affairs. No sooner was his 



34-6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

plan determined than he commenced action. He had been 
through life an early riser. Nc* more certain was the sun to 
climb the eastern sky than was this man to be at his post, his pur- 
pose standing out clear to his view, and the energy of his will 
and the enthusiasm of his nature driving him, from day to day, 
onward to deserve, if not to attain, success. As a consequence 
of this construction of mind, punctuality was a kindred virtue in 
his character worthy of universal imitation. To him may be 
truly applied the remark made by the celebrated Lord Nelson, 
when he said he owed everything to being a quarter of an hour 
before time. Another and the chief virtue in his character was 
integrity. All, therefore, who knew the strict attention to details 
and the system of rigid justice to the members and jurisdiction of 
the Order, are at no loss to know why honors were heaped upon 
him, and his name was known far and near as a man in whom the 
largest confidence might be reposed. Integrity was as conspicu- 
ous in his character as decision and sound judgment. Were we 
to select for imitation the most prominent moral quality in his 
character we would qualify it with but one word — "intrinsic." 
Beneath all the factious distinctions of the world, through all 
sects, parties and conditions, in whatever form suffering and sor- 
row may be found, the electric cord of genuine love finds its 
way. It seeks no reward; its language is, "I am a man." He 
esteemed others not according to outside show, but according to 
their real worth. He did nothing for effect or mere appearance. 
He had no wish to be valued for qualities he did not possess. He 
never acted a part. Unassuming, honest and humble himself, 
he had for all pomp and ostentatious parade the most profound 
contempt, and the stream of his beneficence was not directed to 
conciliate the rich and great, but it flowed where his kind heart 
prompted — to the obscure and neglected, to the stranger and the 
friendless, to the widow and the fatherless. 

He was eminently social in his feelings, enjoying with the 
greatest zest the companionship of old, tried, and trusty friends, 
to whom he always opened his heart and hand, whatever might 
be their station in life. Favors done were never forgotten by 
him, but always repaid with interest when opportunity offered. 
At the friendly fireside and the festive board he presided the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 347 

acknowledged chief. The old and the young alike owned the 
spell of a soul so brimful of social glee and gladness. It would 
be a task to find in any circle his peer for the combination of 
those qualities of head and heart that shone out in every feature 
and found vent in every expression, diffusing around him the 
good-will and happiness of his genial nature. His steps were all 
in the paths of service and benefaction ; his ledger of life was as 
carefully posted as his business ledger, so that when the hour 
came, "of which no man knoweth" in advance, he was ready 
to pass fearless through " the valley and shadow of death;" and 
passing, he has left a memory of peaceful, upright example that 
will not perish with his generation. Many a flower cultiva- 
ted by him to shed its fragrance for every passer-by will long 
plead for kindly thought of him, in whom the gentle and kindly 
elements so mixed that it would not be exaggerating to say, in 
the language of the poet, 

" From nature's mould ne'er came a better man." 

In words full of eloquence and pathos spoke also 
Supreme Representatives Maxwell of Maryland, Morrison 
of Nevada, Lee of Rhode Island, King of Ontario, White- 
house of Maryland, and others, all bearing testimony to the 
personal worth and invaluable services of the departed 
Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal. Never should the 
life and work of Joseph Dowdall in and for the Knights of 
Pythias be forgotten, nor will it be. 

Scarcely had the sound of the tolling bell, which 
announced the death of Joseph Dowdall, died away, when 
the Order was called to mourn the death of the Supreme 
Prelate, William Bryce Thompson. 

At the session of 1882, Supreme Representative B. F. 
Owen, of Tennessee, addressing the Supreme Lodge, paid 
the following tribute to the deceased Prelate : 

Supreme Chancellor and Representatives : 

' ' Though clouds and darkness are round about him, right- 
eousness and truth are still the habitation of his throne." Our 



348 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Order needed this bugle note of cheer when the heart was sick, 
the cheek blanched, and the eye dimmed o'er the losses we sus- 
tained in rapid succession. Ere the tears shed for our beloved 
Dowdall had dried on our cheek, the wound given Pythianism 
by his death was re-opened and caused to bleed afresh by the 
mournful tidings that Bryce Thompson was no more. Although 
of feeble frame and for many years a sufferer ; although his last 
earthly journey was made in search of the coveted health that had 
been denied him for so many weary, painful months ; yet our 
hearts had not ceased to hope for his recovery. But he had 
run his course, and on April 23, 1882, he calmly, peacefully 
breathed his last. William Bryce Thompson was born Febru- 
ary 7, 1835, at Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. His 
education, preparatory to college, was conducted by the Rev. 
Stephen Yates, at that time principal of a boy's school near Bal- 
timore ; and to whose influence, in all probability, can be traced 
his choice of a profession. He entered the junior class at Prince- 
ton, New Jersey, in 1850, and graduated in his eighteenth year. 
He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1852, and read law under 
one of the most eminent jurists of the South, Jno. A. McEwen. 
Being too young for admission to the bar he engaged in teach- 
ing for several years. August 10, 1858, he was married to Miss 
Eleanor P. Chapman, of Baltimore County, Maryland. Entered 
the ministry in 1875, and was ordained October, 1876, and faith- 
fully pursued his beloved profession until summoned hence. He 
was initiated into our Order October, 187 1, the ranks being con- 
ferred by Holsten Lodge, No. 1, at Knoxville, Tennessee. He 
was one of the charter members of Myrtle Lodge, No. 3, located 
at Nashville, which he assisted in instituting, and of which he 
remained a faithful member, being a regular attendant of all its 
sessions until prevented by ill health. He was a charter member 
and assisted at the institution of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, 
April 2, 1872, and was elected Representative to this body at 
that time, and was continuously re-elected until 1879, when hav- 
ing been elected Supreme Prelate at Supreme Lodge session 
of 1878, he resigned his position as Supreme Representative. 
He was re-elected Supreme Prelate at the St. Louis session, 1880, 
and held that office at the time of his death. He was appointed 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 349 

Grand Recording and Corresponding Secretary (the office since 
known as Grand Keeper of Records and Seal) by G. C. McCerkle, 
to fill a vacancy caused by resignation June, 1872, and was con- 
tinuously and by unanimous vote re-elected to that office until 
the last session of our Grand Lodge, when the state of his health 
compelled him to decline a re-election. 

His Pythian career was coincident with the birth and life of 
our Order in Tennessee, and is intimately interwoven with it. 
To him, more than to all others, were our membership accus- 
tomed to look for advice, counsel and encouragement. Large 
draughts were made on his time and patience, and never in vain. 
It was my fortune to be familiarly associated with him for many 
years, and my opportunities for observing his self-sacrificing 
devotion to our Order were better than most others. He was 
at the climax of his usefulness, and could ill be spared by the 
Order he loved so well. 

His sun went down at noon upon the circle of devoted friends, 
as well as upon the Order universal. The intelligence of his 
death fell with overwhelming suddenness. The thought of his 
removal had no doubt often recurred to those who loved him, 
but they put it aside with that cold shuddering which one feels 
when the shadow of anticipated bereavement falls upon the soul. 
As he lived on from month to month, and his frail body mani- 
fested a recuperative power that was unusual, they had come to 
feel that by constant patching and repairing it might yet survive 
to a good old age. 

He seemed so necessary to his Order and so peculiarly fitted 
for the work to which he had been called in it, that perhaps the 
presumptuous thought was hid away in the heart that he must not, 
could not die. And when he fell we drew the mantle over the 
head and mourned with a grief that had no words. But let us 
not weep for him ; let us rather weep for ourselves. When con- 
templating his death, we may well exclaim with one of old, 
"Let me die the death of the righteous, let my last end be like 
his." Death to him was not a calamity; his soul marched in 
triumphal procession in invisible but glorious state, to its chosen 
home, the scene of its abiding rest. 



350 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

To the Roll of Honor were also added the names of 
Joseph T. K. Plant, Past Supreme Chancellor, Hugh 
Latham, Past Supreme Master at Arms, Past Supreme Rep- 
resentatives Albert Storey of New Hampshire, Alonzo B. 
Stephens of Massachusetts, Wm. B. French and Gustave 
F. Stumphel of New Jersey. Each of these men had stood 
by the Order during its dark days ; had seen it pass 
through the terrible struggle for life, and had lived to see 
the Order they so much loved come into its "Land of 
Promise," and they had tasted of the joys that were the 
reward of the faithful, when they were called to lay their 
armor by, and enter into their eternal rest. Of each and 
all of these valiant Knights it can be said they had ' ' fought 
a good fight ; they had kept the faith. " 

The most of the legislation of the session of the 
Supreme Lodge of 1882 was given to the Endowment 
Rank, and there was also some important legislation look- 
ing toward a better organization of the Uniform Rank, all 
of which will be referred to further on. 

The work performed which affected the entire Order 
was the revision of the ritual for Subordinate Lodges. 
The ritual was presented as revised for consideration and 
adoption or rejection by the Supreme Lodge, and while 
it was adopted as outlined by the committee, it was re- 
turned to the committee by the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the committee on the revision of the ritual be em- 
powered to complete the same by making all proper corrections in 
the grammar, orthography and phraseology thereof, and to meet dur- 
ing recess for such purpose, and the expenses of such sessions be met 
by the Supreme Lodge. That when said ritual is perfected, the same 
be published and promulgated under the supervision of the committee 
and the incoming Supreme Chancellor. 

The ritual was perfected according to the plan outlined 
before the Supreme Lodge, during the interim between 
the next session of the Supreme Lodge, and promulgated 
to the Order, except as to the " Secret Journal," which 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 35 I 

was ordered to be and was presented at the Supreme 
Lodge session of 1884. 

The final -work of the session was the election and 
installation of the Supreme Lodge officers here named : 
John P. Linton, Supreme Chancellor, Johnstown, Pa.; John 
Van Valkenburg, Supreme Vice Chancellor, Fort Madison, 
Iowa; L. B. Allen, Supreme Prelate, Norfolk, Va. ; John 
B. Stumph, Supreme Master of Exchequer, Indianapolis, 
Ind. ; John J. Ward, Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal, 
Baltimore, Md. ; Geo. B. Shaw, Supreme Master at Arms, 
Eau Claire, Wis.; G. G. Manlove, Supreme Inner Guard, 
Vicksburg, Miss.; John W. Thompson, Supreme Outer 
Guard, Washington, D. C. 

The retiring Supreme Chancellor deserves more than 
the mere mention that has been made of him in this chap- 
ter, for his name is a household word in his native city. 

GEORGE W. LINDSAY, P. S. C. 

George W. Lindsay, Chief Judge of the Orphan's Court 
of the city of Baltimore, was born in said city May 10th, 
1826. He is the son of William and Elizabeth Lindsay 
{nee Griffith), and is of Irish descent, his parents emigrat- 
ing from Ireland to this country in the year 1825. 

Mr. William Lindsay, father of the Judge, died in 
1849, aged fifty-two years, and Mrs. Lindsay (the mother 
of the Judge) died in January, 1887, at tne advanced age 
of eighty-seven years. 

Judge Lindsay is in every sense of the word a self-made 
man — all his success in life being due to his own unaided, 
continued efforts, backed by his untiring industry and 
energy. His example would be a good lesson for the 
young men of to-day to follow. He left school at the 
early age of fifteen, and, though only a boy, determined in 
the future to depend upon his own efforts. His inclination 
leading him toward the printing business, he apprenticed 



352 HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 

himself in 1842 to Mr. John Murphy, thewell -known pub- 
lisher of Baltimore. After the expiration of five years 
(his term of apprenticeship) he continued in the business 
until the year 1857, when his failing health caused him to 
abandon it. After serious consideration he determined to 
establish a real estate and collecting agency, and has suc- 
ceeded by his industry, energy, and indomitable persever- 
ance in building up one of the most successful agencies in 
the country. 

Judge Lindsay has always been identified with the 
interests of his native city in many ways, and the people 
of Baltimore have not been slow is showing their apprecia- 
tion of the sterling worth of such a man. In the year 
187 1 he was elected by a handsome vote Judge of the 
Orphan's Court, and re-elected for another term of four 
years in 1875, and again by an increased vote in 1879, an d 
in 1883 he was re-elected for the fourth term. 

He has been identified with a number of prominent 
incorporated institutions, and has been a director of the 
"Merchant and Traveller's Banking Association," and 
president of the "People's Mutual Land Company," and 
is at this time president of the ' ' Francis Scott Key Mon- 
ument Association," an organization formed to erect a 
monument in honor of the author of our national anthem, 
"The Star Spangled Banner." 

For forty years Judge Lindsay has been an active mem- 
ber of secret benevolent associations. In 1848 he became 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; in 
1849 the Improved Order of Red Men; in 1867 a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity; in 1869 the Knights of 
Pythias; in 1875 Independent Order of Mechanics; in 
1878 the Knights of Honor, and in 1883 Knights of the 
Golden Eagle. 

In the year 1873 he was elected Grand Chancellor of 
the Grand Lodge of Maryland, and at the session of the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 353 

Supreme Lodge held in Pittsburg, Pa., he was admitted as 
Past Grand Chancellor ; in 1875 he was admitted as Supreme 
Representative from Maryland, and served in this capacity 
until elected Supreme Vice Chancellor in the year 1878, 
and at the St. Louis session in 1880 he was unanimously 
elected Supreme Chancellor. 

He has always been an active working member of the 
Order, and is at present working in the ranks for its 
advancement. 

He organized the first Drill Association of the Order 
within four months after the adoption of the Knights' 
Uniform by the Supreme Lodge, and is now connected 
with the Uniform Rank of the Order. He has also taken 
an especial interest in the Endowment Rank. 

The many important positions he has held and still 
holds in the various Orders have given him almost a 
national reputation, and few men have more friends and 
acquaintances than Judge Lindsay, for in every locality 
where these fraternities exist his name by this identifica- 
tion has become a familiar sound. Though an active 
politician, and often urged to enter the lists for prominent 
positions on his party's ticket, he has persistently declined 
to do so, and is perfectly content to hold the position of 
Judge of the Orphan's Court, a trust which he has filled 
with honor and credit to himself, and to the best interests 
of the public. 

His many acts and deeds of kindness have endeared 
him to the hearts of those whom he has benefited and 
" their name is legion;" his unbiased and equitable de- 
cisions have shown his fitness for the position he holds 
as Judge of the Orphan's Court — all these things, added to 
his courtesy, generosity, and unflinching advocacy of 
truth and justice, have given him such a place in the es- 
teem of his fellow citizens as is enjoyed by very few, and 
which all might feel proud to occupy. 



354 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER XV. 

1882— 1884. 

Administration of John P. Linton, as Supreme Chancellor — Growth 
during — Legislation for Uniform and Endowment Ranks — Elec- 
tion of John Van Valkenburg as Supreme Chancellor. 

^ OF anxiety had passed into months 
of prosperity for the Knights of 
Pythias, when Supreme Chancellor 
John P. Linton entered upon the 
duties of his office. Prosperity, 
however, brought no cessation or 
release from the labors and duties 
incumbent upon the high office to 
which he had been called. While 
he was relieved from the harrassing doubts, turmoils, anx- 
ieties, and terrible struggles through which the first three 
Supreme Chancellors had passed, yet now the actual 
growth of the wide-spreading army of Pythians in itself 
added to the work and care of the chief executive. 

There had been for two years a great Pythian ' ' revival " 
when S. C. Linton took the reins into his hand, and instead 
of abating, the interest grew and widened. Old lodges 
and jurisdictions that had grown weary of the march and 
the struggle, joined anew in the contest when they saw the 
"tide of battle" turn, and were now helping to swell 
the shouts of triumph. The Grand Jurisdiction of Wash- 
ington Territory was added February 26, 1884, Arizona 
and Utah, March 27, 1884. The thought of carrying the 





JOHN P. LINTON, 

Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 355 

Order to other territory beyond the borders of the United 
States had taken a new impetus. The Grand Lodge 
of Ontario had sent her representatives to the Detroit 
session, and while on their coming they had expressed 
doubts as to ultimate success within the Queen's Domin- 
ions, they went away with new life and vigor and with a 
firm determination to push the entire work of the Order 
in their territory. Through the efforts of the Repre- 
sentatives just mentioned the Order was carried into new 
fields in British Columbia and Manitoba. 

In the character" of John P. Linton there is nothing 
whatever of the wild enthusiast ; on the contrary there are 
few more thoroughly determined and zealous men than he, 
in whatever work he undertakes. This statement will 
enable those who are unfortunate in not knowing him per- 
sonally, to appreciate more fully the weight that should be 
attached to his statements respecting the prosperity of the 
Order as it then existed, and his predictions for its future, 
as they were made after a very thorough and careful inves- 
tigation of facts and figures. Regarding the Order with 
that sympathy that unites all humanity, and viewing it also 
from a business stand-point, he could say, as he did, that 
the founders "could scarcely have realized the future 
prominence of the Order which they founded." At the 
close of the fiscal year, March 31, 1884, the report of the 
S. K. of R. and S. shows 37 Grand Lodges, with 1,866 
Subordinate Lodges, and 82 Subordinate Lodges under 
the supervision of the Supreme Lodge, and a total mem- 
bership of 139,230, being an increase of 193 Subordinate 
Lodges, 42 Subordinate Lodges under the Supreme 
Lodge, and 28,327 members from the close of the fiscal 
year of 1882, as reported at the session of the Supreme 
Lodge of that year. The Uniform and Endowment Ranks 
had also made large gains, showing that the Supreme 



356 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



Lodge had acted wisely in engrafting those two Ranks 
upon the Order. 

The report of Supreme Chancellor Linton at the session 
of the S. L. of 1884, at New Orleans, is worthy of special 
mention, as it not only gives a correct and exceedingly 
interesting report of his transactions during his term of 
office, coupled with the growth of the Order in its various 
branches, answering fully the purposes for which it was 
prepared, but it also serves another purpose, for, reading 
between the lines, it discloses the frank, outspoken, straight- 
forward man, who was the chief executive of the Order 
during the period from 1882 to 1884. Every one who will 
read his report will readily see that he had the welfare of 
the Knights of Pythias ever in his mind. This was fully 
understood by the Supreme Representatives, as shown in 
the fact that they approved every material recommend- 
ation that was made by him, and enacted laws to secure 
the ends he suggested. 

His first suggestion related to the duties of the office 
of Supreme Chancellor and the mode of relief. It was 
manifest from the increase of the duties cast upon the 
Supreme Chancellor, as then denned by the Constitution, 
that the work was growing to such magnitude that some 
of the burdens must be taken off his shoulders. We 
quote from his report : 

The extent to which the report might be swollen by entering 
into details, is in some measure owing to the multifarious duties 
imposed on the Supreme Chancellor, and perhaps one of the 
measures which should engage the attention of Representatives at 
this session would be so arranging, systematizing and dividing 
this business as to enable one engaged in the active duties of life 
to assume this exalted position without unduly sacrificing his own 
income, interests, and business. At present the Supreme Chan- 
cellor might well devote his entire time to the duties of his office, 
and would find himself thoroughly occupied, and no one who has 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



357 



other engagements can even try to meet the exactions on his 
time, without feeling an uncomfortable sense that much has been 
neglected. As head of the Endowment Rank, the Supreme 
Chancellor is president of a widely extended and numerously 
patronized insurance company, without clerks at his office to do 
the manual labor of correspondence, and without an actuary to 
aid in solving difficult problems. As head of the Uniform Rank, 
he is acting in the capacity of a general of an army without 
adjutant-general or aids. And as head of the Order in general, 
he is chief magistrate of a small republic, without a cabinet, and 
burdened with the duties of a W. M. Grand Sire or Grand 
Master, which all these titles imply. When I assumed the 
duties of the office, I confess that I had no adequate conception 
of the magnitude of those duties. That much time would be 
required to properly discharge them, I was well aware; that 
much careful thought and study would be exacted to satisfactorily 
determine the questions which might be presented, I fully under- 
stood, and that much patience would have to be exercised to pre- 
serve an unruffled temper amidst all the ordeals of the position, I 
did not doubt, but the constant, absorbing, exacting demand 
upon time, thought and patience uninterruptedly required, I did 
not anticipate. By sacrificing my own business, I have at least 
endeavored to measure up to these requirements, but for the sake 
of my successors (whose interest and those of the Order alone 
prompt these remarks) I suggest that in the radical changes con- 
templated in the Uniform and Endowment Ranks at this session, 
some effort should be made to relieve the Supreme Chancellor 
from some of the onerous burdens resting upon him. As at pres- 
ent organized, every new Section of the Endowment Rank and 
every new Division of the Uniform Rank increases his duties, and 
if the rapid increase of the past two years is continued, the time 
must come when he will be unable to do all that is required. 

The Supreme Lodge at this session (1884), acting upon 
his suggestions, relieved the Supreme Chancellor from the 
burdens of the Endowment and Uniform Ranks by creat- 
ing special officers for each of them. A new officer, to be 
known as the Supreme Secretary of the Endowment Rank, 



358 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

assumed the responsibility and chief work of that Rank, and 
the care and management of the Uniform Rank devolved 
upon the officer known as the Major-General commanding 
the Uniform Rank, both officials being recognized as mem- 
bers of the Supreme Lodge. The duties of each have grown 
now to such proportions that they require the entire time 
and attention of the officers in charge of them. Thus has 
our beloved Order increased year by year, extending its 
sphere of usefulness, the legislation of the Supreme body 
keeping pace step by step with the advance, being of that 
liberal kind that' has met every emergency fully, freely, 
and intelligently. We have found no barriers that could 
not be surmounted, no " ancient landmarks " that hindered 
or impeded the onward march. The Order has been 
especially fortunate, too, in the men who have been chosen 
to fill the highest office within its gift. John P. Linton 
may be considered a fair type of his predecessors and suc- 
cessors. All of them have been earnest and progressive 
men; men of broad comprehension in thought, purpose, 
and desire for the success and permanency of the Order, 
who needed no supernatural vision to see that success 
could only be secured and permanently retained by keep- 
ing abreast of the great, busy world about them. 

A special committee of five, consisting of Supreme 
Chancellor Lindsay, Supreme Master of Exchequer John 
B. Stumph, S. R. 's Hawkes of Pennsylvania, Lee of Mas- 
sachusetts, and Allen of Virginia, had been appointed at the 
session of 1882, to whom were "referred all matters rela- 
tive to the Endowment Rank, with instructions to meet 
during the recess, and report at the next (1884) session of 
the Supreme Lodge. " This committee made a very full 
and complete report, presenting a constitution and general 
laws for the government and management of this Rank, 
which, when carried into full effect, would result in entirely 
reorganizing this very important branch of the Order. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 359 

The consideration of these changes by the Supreme body 
consumed the greater portion of the session. The Uni- 
form Rank Committee, consisting of Representatives 
Howard Douglass, of Ohio; J. R. Alexander, of Texas; 
James R. Carnahan, of Indiana ; Charles A. Mack, of 
Michigan ; and Bob Newell, of Arkansas, also presented 
a carefully revised code of laws for the government and 
management of that Rank. These laws for both Ranks 
were adopted. Supreme Representative Halvor Nelson, 
of the District of Columbia, was chosen as the Supreme 
Secretary of the Endowment Rank, and Supreme Repre- 
sentative James R. Carnahan, of Indiana, as Major-Gen- 
eral of the Uniform Rank, and entered immediately upon 
their respective duties. 

The officers elected for the ensuing term were : Founder 
and Past Supreme Chancellor, Justus H. Rathbone, Wash- 
ington, D. C; Past Supreme Chancellor, John P. Linton, 
Johnstown, Pa.; Supreme Chancellor, John Van Valken- 
burg, Fort Madison, Iowa; Supreme Prelate, Jno. S. King, 
Toronto, Ontario ; Supreme Master of Exchequer, S. J. 
Willey, Wilmington, Del.; Supreme Keeper of Records 
and Seal, R. E. Cowan, Kansas City, Mo. ; Supreme Sec- 
retary Endowment Rank, Halvor Nelson, Washington, 
D. C. ; Major-General Uniform Rank, James R. Carna- 
han, Indiana ; Supreme Master-at-Arms, George B. Shaw, 
Eau Claire, Wis.; Supreme Inner Guard, C. F. Bragg, 
Bangor, Maine; Supreme Outer Guard, John W. Thomp- 
son, Washington, D. C. 

Supreme Chancellor Linton retired from office with the 
cordial good-will and esteem of the members of the Su- 
preme Lodge with whom he had been associated, many of 
them being his co-laborers in the Pythian work for many 
years. As a man he has the respect and confidence of all 
who know him. During the late war his fortunes were cast 
with the Union army, and he rendered excellent service. 



360 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

By profession he is an attorney at law, and as an advocate 
and jurist has an excellent reputation. As a Pythian he 
entered the lists a charter member of Mineral Lodge, No. 
89, of Pennsylvania, in 1868, and was made its first Past 
Chancellor and Representative to the Grand Lodge of that 
State. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had just been 
instituted wjien he entered it, and the first constitution for 
that body was framed at the session at which he became a 
member. He was elected as a Representative to the Su- 
preme Lodge for the first session of that body held at 
Richmond, Virginia, in 1869, but was unable to be present. 
He entered the Supreme Lodge at the session held in New 
York City in 1870, and has attended every session since 
that date, first serving as chairman of the Committee on 
State of the Order, then as chairman of the Committee on 
Law and Supervision, until the session of 1880, when he was 
elected Supreme Vice Chancellor, and in 1882 promoted to 
the office of Supreme Chancellor. His life as a man, a 
citizen, and a Knight of Pythias, has been .of the highest and 
most honorable character. Long may he live to see and 
enjoy the prosperity of the Order for which he has labored 
so earnestly and faithfully.* 

*The author regrets that he cannot give a fuller sketch of the life of 
Past Supreme Chancellor Linton, but he was unable to secure any facts 
beyond those here given. 



! 




JOHN VAN VALKENBURG, 

Past Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



361 



CHAPTER XVI. 

1884— 1886. 

Administration of John Van Valkenburg, Supreme Chancellor — 
Growth of the Order — Financial Condition — Toronto Session and 
Reception — Major-General Added to List of Supreme Lodge 
Officers— Death of P. S. C. S. S. Davis— Eulogy by S. C. Van 
Valkenburg — John Van Valkenburg, P. S. C, Sketch of. 




ONE can read the report of Supreme 
Chancellor Van Valkenburg without 
forming an excellent opinion of the 
good-fellowship of the Knights of 
Pythias. The accounts he gives of 
the knightly and courteous recep- 
tions given him and other Supreme 
Lodge officers on some of his offi- 
cial visitations, clearly show the 
knighthood of modern days to be 
equal, if not superior, to that of the more ancient days, in 
hospitality and good cheer. The feasts described, the 
tables groaning with all the delicacies of the civilized 
world, the happy faces gathered about the board, the elo- 
quent words of welcome and congratulation, give one 
glimpses of days described in the wondrous stories told of 
the banquets given to kings and their attendant lords in 
days of chivalry. 

After all, why are not the Supreme Chancellor and his 
associate officers of the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias 
even greater than they who wore crowns and bore titles in 



362 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

the days of the long ago ? The men who have borne the 
title of Supreme Chancellor of this modern, chivalric Order, 
are men of greater learning, broader and more enlightened 
thought, and a truer nobility, such as comes from a more 
thoroughly christianized and ennobled self-respect and up- 
right manhood, than was possessed by those to whom hom- 
age was paid. We live in days that surpass in worthy deeds 
and noble daring the proudest era of chivalry. The coun- 
try described in Supreme Chancellor Van Valkenburg's re- 
port is a fairer paradise of fruits and flowers, of vines and 
trees, of mountains and plains, of crystal springs, running 
brooks, broad rivers and mighty lakes, than was ever be- 
holden by king or mailed knight in ancient days. Truly 
we have " come into a goodly heritage," and we as mem- 
bers of this great Order should prize the age in which we 
live. 

But one other Supreme Chancellor, S. S. Davis, de- 
voted so much of the term of his office to official visi- 
tations as was done by Supreme Chancellor Van Valk- 
enburg. The circumstances under which these two offi- 
cers visited the Order in different parts of the Supreme 
Jurisdiction were greatly dissimilar. S. S. Davis beheld 
the Knighthood overwhelmed with debt, threatened with 
disaster, and when ruin seemed inevitable. S. C. Van 
Valkenburg saw it after that mountain of debt had been 
removed. The one was Supreme Chancellor when the 
minds of all were oppressed with gloom and dread fore- 
bodings ; the other filled that office when all were full of 
hope and confidence ; the one visited some Grand Juris- 
dictions when they were rent asunder by internal strife and 
factious quarrels; when the other came among them their 
strifes were over and peace reigned supreme; the one 
made his official visitations to remove burdens and restore 
peace ; the other to rejoice with the Order in the peace 
that came through the labors of the former. Both did 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



363 



the proper service to the Order in their visitations. How- 
ever much of joy there was in the fraternal receptions 
spoken of by S. C. Van Valkenburg, they were not with- 
out their labors for the upbuilding and spread of the Order 
at large. New territory was entered, and the work that 
had been already begun was completed by the instituting 
of new Grand Lodges. The following Grand Lodges were 
instituted under this administration :* Wyoming Territory, 
August 23, 1884; New Mexico, October 8, 1884; Montana, 
January 14, 1885 ; Dakota, April 30, 1885 ; Florida, June 
4, 1886; South Carolina, June 29, 1886 ;f Maritime Prov- 
inces, June 30, 1886. 

As the report of Supreme Chancellor Van Valkenburg, 
made at the Supreme Lodge session at Toronto, Ontario, 
is the most recent report covering the entire Supreme Ju- 
risdiction, it may be well to quote from that concerning the 
condition of the Order. He said: 

Convincing evidences of the solid and permanent growth of 
our Order exist on every hand and may be read of all men. In 
my visitations to various sections of our common country, I have 
been delighted to observe a sound, healthy, and vigorous growth 
of our organization, and have noted with especial pride that we 
are attracting the best, truest, and purest men in every commu- 
nity to our ranks. 

For the last two years, ending December 31, 1885, based on 
actual returns to the Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal, as 
will be seen by reference to his very able and exhaustive report, 
there was an increase of over thirty thousand members, making 
our aggregate membership on March 31, 1886, 167,444, as 
against a membership of 137,740 on March 31, 1884. The 
largest increase in membership during said two years was in Cal- 
ifornia, Kansas, and Indiana. There was a satisfactory growth in 
nearly all the Grand Jurisdictions in the term above specified. 
The same ratio of increase will give us now (on July 1, 1886,) at 
least 170,000 members in the world. 



S. L. journal, p. 3282. 



Reorganized. S. L. Journal, p. 3563. 



364 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The reports of proper officers showed at the last session of the 
Supreme Lodge (April, 1884,) that there were 40 Grand Lodges, 
1,886 Subordinate Lodges, 72 Subordinate Lodges under the im- 
mediate supervision of the Supreme Lodge, and a membership of 
130,361. From the most reliable data at our command at the 
time of making this report we have 45 Grand Lodges, 2,452 Sub- 
ordinate Lodges, and 170,000 members. 

Steadily and surely is our cause gaining a foothold in all the 
States and Territories of our own Republic, challenging the esteem 
and confidence of the good, brave, and true of all communities. 

Since the last session of the Supreme Lodge of the World, 
the Pythian banner has been carried forward into Idaho Terri- 
tory and the Indian Territory. 

The only object of this administration has been to secure a 
steady, solid and substantial growth of Pythianism, seeking more 
for quality than quantity. * * * * * 

The financial condition of an organization is a true criterion 
as to its solid and permanent growth, and judged by such a stand- 
ard the Knights of Pythias have nothing to fear. 

Aside from this excellent financial showing there are many 
other matters which must be placed to our credit as a great char- 
itable organization. By an examination of the clear, succinct, and 
able report of the Supreme Secretary of the Endowment Rank, 
herewith submitted to you, it appears that the magnificent sum 
of$3,23i,o63.85 has been paid to the widows and orphans of de- 
ceased Knights since the organization of that important branch of 
the Order. 

Then again, I invite your careful attention to the splendid re- 
port of the Major-General, showing the growth and present ex- 
cellent condition of the Uniform Rank under his wise care and 
management. There have been 137 Divisions of the Uniform 
Rank added during my term, and still the good work goes 
bravely on. 

What more can be said concerning the condition of the 
Order than what is said in the foregoing brief summary ? 
To conserve what has been secured by the Order thus far 
in its history should be the object and settled purpose of all 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 365 

The session of the Supreme Lodge of 1886 was cer- 
tainly the most enjoyable one that had ever been held. 
For the first time in the history of the Order the Supreme 
body met on other than United States territory. The 
Supreme Lodge in 1884 accepted the invitation of the 
Grand Lodge of Ontario and the citizens of Toronto to 
hold its fourteenth session in Toronto, and on July 13, 
1886, the Supreme Lodge was welcomed to that beautiful 
city. The citizens one and all extended the most cordial 
reception possible to the Supreme Lodge and the Uniform 
Rank. The city itself had been draped with American 
and British colors; single flags, and the flags of the two 
nations entwined; flags from the windows of the residences, 
flags over the door-ways of business houses ; flags over the 
streets, and arches covered with flags, until the city was 
one continuous scene of bright colors. The brightness of 
the scene was enhanced by the gallant bearing of the offi- 
cers and Sir Knights of the Uniform Rank arrayed in their 
handsome uniforms. The parade of the Uniform Rank 
surpassed anything that had ever before been attempted for 
or by the Knights of Pythias, and won the plaudits not of 
the citizens of Toronto alone, but of the tens of thousands 
of people who had gathered from the United States and 
the Canadas to witness the brilliant pageant, It occurred on 
the first day of the session, which proved to be, indeed, a 
proud day for the Knighthood, and a joyful one too, not 
only to the younger members of the Order who partici- 
pated therein, but more especially so to those older mem- 
bers of the Order who had been through the great strug- 
gles of which we have written, and now saw, as did the 
founder J. H. Rathbone, P. S. C. Samuel Read, and others 
of their early associates, this the Order they had so earn- 
estly desired to see come into the sunshine of prosperity, 
march forth in the full strength of its young manhood. It 
was a day, too, that proclaimed a grand victory for those 



366 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Knights who had labored untiringly for the establishment 
and success of the Uniform Rank. The display showed 
what could be done by systematic work and discipline in 
this the highest Rank of the Order, and gave ample assur- 
ance of the great possibilities that are opened to the Rank 
and to the Order at large through its instrumentality. 
Certain it is that the witnesses that day, those within the 
Order, and those without its triangles, who gazed upon the 
marching columns, obtained a better conception of the 
Order of Knights of Pythias than any they could get from 
mere accounts in print, for there they saw the Order itself 
personified. 

During this session of the Supreme Lodge, which con- 
tinued from July 13th to 25th, there was not a day of 
the entire time that that body was not the recipient of 
some act of courtesy and kindness at the hands of the 
government or city authorities, while the citizens and 
local military vied with the officials in making the few 
hours of respite from the duties of the session one contin- 
ued series of receptions and fetes in our honor. The Su- 
preme Lodge session of 1886 has gone on record as the 
pleasantest ever held, made so by the generous and excel- 
lent citizens of Toronto. 

The work of the session was of special interest to the 
entire Order, but more especially so to the Endowment 
and Uniform Ranks, the greater portion of the time being 
devoted to the perfecting of the Endowment Rank, and the 
settlement of disputed matters connected with that branch 
of the Order. The Uniform Rank was more thoroughly 
endorsed and confirmed in its work in and for the Order, 
by the adoption of the amendment making the Major-Gen- 
eral commanding that Rank one of the Supreme Lodge 
officers, thus securing for that Rank special representation 
at all times on the floor of the Supreme Lodge. The 
unanimity manifested by this action is worthy of notice. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



367 



When the amendment was put upon its final passage Rep- 
resentative Morrow, of Wisconsin, demanded that the 
vote be taken by ayes and noes, and the demand being 
sustained, the roll was called and resulted, ayes 80, noes 3. 
Rarely in the history of the passage of amendments is the 
result so nearly unanimous. This action of the Supreme 
Lodge was fully appreciated by the Sir Knights of all 
grades, and increased, if such were possible, their fealty 
and devotion to the Supreme Lodge. 

One face that had in former sessions greeted the 
Supreme Representatives with smiles, and a voice that had 
at all times uttered cheerful greetings and words of wis- 
dom in the gravest councils, was sadly missed from this 
session. Stillman Samuel Davis, Past Supreme Chancellor, 
had, since the previous session, answered the call of the 
Supreme Chancellor of the Universe, and entered into his 
reward. Never before had death laid its hand so heavily 
upon the Order, and those who had known P. S. C. Davis 
mourned his absence with sincerest sorrow. Supreme 
Chancellor Van Valkenburg paid a most eloquent tribute 
to his memory. He said : 

Once more we are called upon to mourn the loss of one of 
earth's noblest sons, and one of our most beloved and cherished 
Pythian Knights. No truer man, more devoted Christian, or 
more exemplary Knight ever graced the roster of any fraternal 
organization in this or any other land. 

In every relation of life he was the same true, trusted, and 
model man — making all of his associates happy and contented by 
his genial nature and words of good cheer. 

His name is now registered in the calendar of saints. His 
mission on earth was to illustrate the pure doctrine of practical 
benevolence in seeking out distresses, binding up wounds, assuag- 
ing griefs, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, educating the 
orphan, protecting the widow, comforting the dying, and bury- 
ing the dead. He fully recognized the doctrine that man needed 
a closer acquaintance with man — the world over. 



368 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Our lamented brother was eminently well qualified for a 
leader in the great Pythian movement, and to his skill, fidelity, 
and vigilance our wondrous growth is largely due. 

You all do know our terrible condition as an Order in 1874 — 
when our brother was first elected to the chief executive office. 
Then there was no money in our exchequer, a large indebtedness 
hanging over us, and doubt and distrust pervading the minds and 
hearts of the entire membership. Under his wise, discreet, and 
conservative management confidence was restored, a rapid growth 
ensued, and at the Supreme Lodge session in 1876, at Indepen- 
dence Hall, in Philadelphia, every obligation was discharged and 
there was a surplus remaining in the treasury. In recognition of 
these invaluable services he was chosen for a second time to pre- 
side over the destines of our great Order, and earned the lasting 
gratitude of every true Knight by a faithful, zealous, and honest 
discharge of duty during such second term. 

Rubies, diamonds, chalcedonies, pearls, and emeralds are all 
cold, dead things. They glitter and dazzle. They make people 
envious and uncomfortable, but they cheer nobody, they feed 
nobody, they comfort nobody. The name and fame of S. S. Davis 
are worth more than all the gems of Christendom. They will 
grow brighter and brighter as the years come and go. 

In all the years to come, his eulogy will be breathed silently, 
into the ear of heaven, with the last prayer of the dying ; by the 
widow over the bier of her husband, by the young orphan over 
the grave of his father. He will be recognized in all the oncom- 
ing years as the ' ' Moses " of Pythian Knighthood. 

Although a leader and an important factor in nearly all the 
other great charitable Orders of this era, our Order was his first 
love, and received the lion's share of his time, talents, and affec- 
tion. The beautiful incident of unsullied friendship — upon which 
our ritual was formulated — was interwoven in the very warp and 
woof of his being, and was burned into his heart of hearts by the 
sunlight of Truth, and acted as an inspiration on his life. 

No man ever more fully exemplified the cardinal doctrines of 
this humanitarian movement in his daily walk than our lamented 
brother. By every act, word, and look he seemed to reaffirm the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 369 

saying of our illustrious prototype : " I do prefer the certainty of 
death unto the possibility of dishonor." 

"Ah, Knights ! It is a glorious plan, 
This changeless fellowship of man ! 
Not like the lover's 'wildering bliss ; 
Not like the first impassioned kiss ; 
These are life's ecstacies divine, 
That blend like bubbles in the wine, 
Yet like its sparkle, false, though fair, 
A serpent's sting oft rankles there. 
But as the river to the sea, 
Steadfast and true your love must be, 
Constant, undimmed, your friendship run 
As planet circling round the sun." 

His pure, unostentatious, and lovable life will exercise a strong 
influence over our membership as long as men revere and cherish 
unselfish devotion to duty, genuine manhood, and the highest 
type of chivalry. 

" But there are deeds which shall not pass away, 
And names that must not wither, though the earth 
Forgets her empires with a just decay, 
The enslavers and the enslaved, their death and birth; 
The high, the mountain majesty of worth 
Should be, and shall, survivor of its woe, 
And from its immortality look forth 
In the sun's face, like yonder Alpine snow, 
Imperishably pure beyond all things below." 

Most fitting eulogies were pronounced also by Supreme 
Representatives McKinley, of New Hampshire, Mack, 
of Michigan, Lee, of Rhode Island, and others, all testify- 
ing to the nobleness of the deceased as a man, and his 
worth as a Knight. 

The following named officers having been elected for 
the ensuing term were duly installed : John Van Valken- 
burg, of Iowa, Past Supreme Chancellor ; Howard Doug- 
lass, of Ohio, Supreme Chancellor ; VWlliam Ward, of New 
Jersey, Supreme Vice Chancellor; John S. King, of Onta- 
rio, Supreme Prelate ; R. E. Cowan, of Missouri, Supreme 
Keeper of Records and Seal; S. J. Willey, of Delaware, 
Supreme Master of Exchequer ; Halvor Nelson, District of 



370 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Columbia, Supreme Secretary Endowment Rank ; J. R. 
Carnahan, of Indiana, Major-General Uniform Rank; 
Chas. F. Bragg, of Maine, Supreme Master-at-Arms ; Bob 
Newell, of Arkansas, Supreme Inner Guard; Jno. W. 
Thompson, District of Columbia, Supreme Outer Guard. 
John Van Valkenburg as Supreme Chancellor had prac- 
tically devoted his entire term of office to the work of the 
Order. There was no demand of the Order upon his time 
and service to which he did not cheerfully respond if it was 
in his power so to do. With him there was no complaint 
of overwork or fatigue ; he had accepted the office in good 
faith, and had religiously and conscientiously discharged 
every duty. As an honored and truly honorable member 
of the Knights of Pythias, we beg leave to introduce him 
to those who have not the honor of his acquaintance. 

HON. JOHN VAN VALKENBURG, 

Senior member of the law firm of Van Valkenburg & Ham- 
ilton, of Fort Madison, Iowa, is a gentleman in the prime 
of life, and a Canadian by birth. He was born at St. 
George, Ontario, and was but a lad when his parents re- 
moved from his native Canada to the United States, cross- 
ing the " Father of Waters" and locating in Iowa in 
1846, the same year in which it was admitted into the 
Union as a State. . The prairies of this now rich and pow- 
erful commonwealth at that time were almost without 
habitation. These pioneers were not burdened with 
means, but they had a rich fund of determination, and 
were industrious by habit and principle. In the course 
of time they were enabled to acquire a small piece of land, 
upon which they erected an humble home, where they 
reared their family as best they could with the limited 
educational facilities at hand, public schools at that time 
not being numerous or easily accessible. John applied 
himself to the elementary branches of education almost 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 37 1 

unaided, for several years, in the meantime assisting his 
father upon the farm, and from his small earnings saved 
whatever he could, until by the severest toil and closest 
economy he had accumulated sufficient funds with which 
to enter upon a collegiate course. At the age of seventeen 
years he entered the preparatory school of Prof. Howe, of 
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and pursued a course of study for the 
following three years. He then spent one year at Oberlin 
College, Ohio, then went to Galesburg, 111. , and completed 
his education in Knox College. At the expiration of this 
time he was elected Principal of the State Normal School 
of Iowa, in which position he served one year, but declined 
the appointment for the succeeding term, as his training 
and tastes inclined him to the profession of the law. He 
now proceeded to Chicago, 111. , and engaged in the study 
of law in the office of Goudy, Waite & Jamieson, they be- 
ing amongst the leading attorneys of the Northwest, where 
he remained for one year, thence returned to his home in 
his adopted State, and completed his studies with the dis- 
tinguished firm of Miller & Beck, of Fort Madison. He 
was soon afterwards admitted to the bar, and located 
permanently at Fort Madison. His natural endowments, 
literary culture, and knowledge of the law soon procured 
for him a profitable and extensive practice in the State 
and Federal Courts, which he retains to this day. 

Mr. Van Valkenburg has been a prominent member 
of the I. O. O. F., in the West. He was initiated into 
the mysteries January 22, 1868, in Fort Madison Lodge, 
No. 157, of which he is still a member. In 1880 he was 
elected Grand Master of the Order in Iowa, and in June 
following was elected Grand Representative to the Sovereign 
Grand Lodge, taking his seat in September, 1883, m the 
S. G. L. at Providence, R. I. He was re-elected Grand 
Representative, without opposition, by the Odd Fellows of 
Iowa in June, 1884. Preceding this he had been knightod 



372 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

as a charter member of Gem City Lodge, No. 21, K. of P., 
of Fort Madison, and was its first Vice Chancellor. He 
was elected Grand Chancellor of Iowa in 1875, and re- 
elected two years later. He has been an earnest and 
efficient member of the Supreme Lodge for seven consec- 
utive sessions, having first taken his seat at the memora- 
ble session in 1876, at Philadelphia. 

He is an ardent advocate of the principles, practices, 
and usages of Pythianism, and has aided very materially 
in working up a strong and powerful organization in his 
State. His speeches and essays are embellished with 
poetic eloquence, and he is regarded as one of the leading 
orators of his State. His prolific and versatile pen has 
been the means of adding many folios to Pythian literature. 

He was elected Supreme Chancellor on April 23, 
1884, at the session of the Supreme Lodge at New Or- 
leans, Louisiana, and served the Order in such capacity 
until the close of the fifteenth session, in July, 1886, at 
Toronto, Ontario. In recognition of his services, as the 
chief executive officer, the Supreme Lodge, on July 17, 
1886, unanimously adopted the following report of the 
Committee on the State of the Order, to wit: 

To the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias of the World: 

Your Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was re- 
ferred that portion of the Supreme Chancellor's report touching 
the general condition of the Order, beg leave to report: That 
we have given the same careful examination, and feel that we 
cannot find words to adequately express our confidence in and 
appreciation of his labors. Entering upon the administration of 
his office two years ago with superb enthusiasm, and closing it 
with overwhelming victory, giving, so far as your committee is 
able to determine by the results of his energies, his entire time to 
the duties of his office, thereby meriting the universal commen- 
dation of the Order. Your committee, after taking a retrospect 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



373 



of his field of labor, and the gratifying results, would respectfully 
submit the following resolution, and move its adoption : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Supreme Lodge and the entire fra- 
ternity are one and all hereby accorded to Supreme Chancellor Van "Val- 
kenburg for his services to the Order, rendered by him in his official ca- 
pacity as Supreme Chancellor of the World. 

As a lawyer, Mr. Van Valkenburg is a strong advocate, 
possessed of sound judgment and peculiar argumentative 
powers. As a citizen he is liberal and enterprising, making 
the interests of his community those of his own, and as- 
sisting, both by his influence and more substantial means, 
every worthy enterprise, moral, religious, or educational. 
He has nobly worked his way from obscurity to promi- 
nence, and receives ample reward in the esteem of his 
fellow-citizens. 




374 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER XVIL 

1886—1888. 

Howard Douglass, Supreme Chancellor — His Administration — 
Trouble in Pennsylvania — Gen. William Ward, Supreme Vice 
Chancellor — John Wesley Thompson, Supreme Outer Guard. 




FIFTEEN years of faithful ser- 
vice in the Supreme Lodge, 
that august body, in 1886, 
showed its appreciation of his 
labors by electing to the office 
of Supreme Chancellor one of 
the earliest members of the 
Supreme Lodge Knights of 
Pythias, Howard Douglass, Su- 
preme Representative from the 
Grand Jurisdiction of Ohio. 
Among the names of Past Grand Chancellors reported as 
being entitled to seats as Supreme Representatives at the 
third annual session of the Supreme Lodge, which con- 
vened in the city of Philadelphia, April 18, 1871, appears 
the name of this justly renowned Knight and Supreme 
Chancellor. 

The men who have received the highest honors at the 
hands of the Supreme Lodge are those who came into the 
Pythian ranks in the early history of the Order, and have 
remained steadfast and loyal thereto throughout its entire 
history. .They have been the pioneers of the Order who 
entered the ranks in its early struggles, and have carried 







HOWARD DOUGLASS, 

Supreme Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 375 

the Pythian banner into new States and Territories. This % 
is as it should be. Not one of our Supreme Chancellors 
has been promoted until he had fairly won his knightly 
spurs in honorable though hard service for the Order, and 
none have devoted more time, labor, and money for the 
advancement of the Order than Howard Douglass, the Su- 
preme Chancellor elected and installed in office at the four- 
teenth session of the Supreme Lodge at Toronto, Ontario, 
July, 1886. He early took an active interest in the young 
Order, and stood firmly by its colors through all the storms 
of the Conclaves, the defalcation of Barton, and the conse- 
quent financial ruin and threatened disruption, never los- 
ing faith in the ultimate success of the Order over which 
he now presides. He worked solely to secure the success 
of the Order, and not for personal preferment. Content 
to work rather than to seek positions, it was not until 1882, 
eleven years after he first entered the Supreme Lodge, 
that he permitted himself to be brought before that body 
as a candidate for official position, although he had, prior 
to that time, been urged by his many enthusiastic friends 
to allow his name to be used. In 1882, however, he at 
the last moment before the election yielded to the impor- 
tunities of his friends who presented his name for the posi- 
tion of Supreme Vice Chancellor, and although not success- 
ful in the race he received a remarkably complimentary 
vote. His name was again presented at the session of 
1884, at New Orleans, and he was most handsomely elected 
to the office of Supreme Vice Chancellor. Two years later 
and the Supreme Lodge said with one voice, ' ' come 
up higher," and placed the gavel of supreme authority in 
his hands, believing that he who for fifteen years in the 
Supreme Lodge had worked so faithfully and well would 
also be faithful in the discharge of the highest trust that 
could be reposed in him. 



$J6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Upon the announcement of the vote for Supreme Chan- 
cellor, Howard Douglass thanked the Supreme Lodge in 
eloquent terms, and his address being so thoroughly Pyth- 
ian in spirit, is deemed worthy of repetition here. He said : 

Officers and Representatives of the Supreme Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias : 

Knightly Sirs and Brothers: For the highest gift of 
honor in your power to bestow, and especially for the renewed 
confidence and esteem you have so unanimously manifested 
towards him upon whom that honor has now fallen, no words, no 
set form of speech, can adequately express my feelings or convey 
to you the thanksgiving of my heart. You have again, by a 
supreme act of friendship, reduced to poverty the ' ' mother 
tongue," and I am sure there is no other language on earth capa- 
ble of supplying my wants in any appropriate frame of expression. 

But if those more natural and reciprocal signs, as displayed 
through the tender emotions of the heart and the nobler workings 
of the mind, are of any value in this presence, it is certain that 
my appreciation of your knightly favor will be fully recognized. 

If, indeed, it were possible to wholly unbosom and show the 
various forms of exalted feeling now at work in the ' ' Supreme 
Lodge" of my heart in the endeavor to exemplify what is due you 
in wealth of thanks, you would probably acknowledge "the 
honors even," at least so far as the tokens of friendship are 
concerned. Still, you are aware, while I am deeply conscious of 
the fact, that were the interest compounded on your favors pre- 
viously conferred upon me, I would be forever in arrears. Those 
of you who were present at our last session on a similar occasion 
— that of my preference for second position by your suffrages — 
may recall to mind the silent yet natural expression of my feel- 
ings at that time. Allow me to assure you that my heart has not 
changed in quality or power of feeling towards you. It has only 
become more familiar with and appreciative of your matchless 
bounty. 

I shall endeavor to prove to you by an exemplary zeal and 
course of conduct, by an impartial courtesy, and promptness in 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 377 

every official act, that your exceeding great confidence and 
esteem has not been misplaced ; and if honest purpose, unswerv- 
ering loyalty and devotion to the interests of our Order are the 
proper criterions in judging official and fraternal acts, I hope to 
deserve at the close of my administration the only reward to be 
coveted at your hands : ' ' Well done, thou good and faithful 
servant." 

My greatest desire at this moment is to be able to fully grasp 
and appreciate the import of the authority committed to my 
keeping under the solemn obligations imposed upon me ; and in 
this spirit of acceptance alone do I ask both your collective and 
individual support in the performance of my duties. I feel that 
without your most charitable and earnest desire for my success, 
and your most zealous co-operation therein, the prospect before 
me would appear forlorn, hampered as I would be at the start by 
perplexities of mind and heart that would weigh heavily upon 
every action. But assured of your knightly generosity of soul, 
and by observing the wise course marked out by my illustrious 
predecessor in office, I feel already confident that there is noth- 
ing to oppose, save that natural short-coming in human wisdom 
to which all are liable, but which, even in my humble experi- 
ence, I trust will always "lean to virtue's side." 

I shall strive to hold fast to the text as well as the spirit of the 
laws as devised in our Constitution, and deployed through the 
wisdom of your legislative acts and decisions, and to show no 
partiality or favor in conflict with the majority opinion of this 
body or the general welfare of the Order — always bearing in 
mind that you are the controlling power and directing head, of 
which I am but the instrument and executive right arm. 

During the interval of your control, in the functional perform- 
ance of the duties of this office I shall exercise no policy at vari- 
ance with the best approved traditions and usages of the Order. 

Brothers, aside from any serious consideration of the duties 
attached to my position, we have before us in the immediate 
future the most pleasing prospect to contemplate. 

The exceeding harmony and unity of spirit and action exist- 
ing throughout the brotherhood, the marvelous showing of nu- 
merical and financial increase in every rank, the more general 



37^ PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

adoption and greater uniformity of wise methods and rules of 
action governing every lodge and department of the Order, all 
point toward a continuation, and even more rapid development, 
of growth and prosperity. 

Since heaven's bow of beauty was set in the cloud there has 
never appeared a brighter promise, a more glorious hope of world- 
wide Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence, than arches the 
Pythian horizon to-day. We have passed out of the glimmering 
dawn of infancy, the darkening storms of early youth, and have 
emerged into the noontide splendor of success in a career of moral 
grandeur and usefulness upon which all people under the sun may 
look with pride, with hope, and with gladness. 

We have put on the full chivalric uniform of knightly man- 
hood, and now stand " four square to all the winds," foremost in 
line among the greatest institutions of earth. 

I congratulate you upon having met in council, under such 
favorable circumstances, on the soil of that Empire whose girdle 
of conquest encircles the earth and marks the northern boundary 
of our own. We have occasion to rejoice over our first united 
effort to get a good staying hold upon that girdle, and to capture 
the millions of brave hearts that throb within it. Let us show by 
our knightly deportment, by every manly act of courtesy known 
to our brotherhood of the States, where we so mightily prevail, 
that we are equal to the task of foreign conquest, and worthy of 
the great prize'. But let that conquest be mainly on the one side 
of the nobler qualities of mind and heart, on the other, the subju- 
gation of false pride, envious strife, and unruly passions, if any 
exist in our bosoms, and the cultivation of mutual brotherly rela- 
tions of knightly esteem, that we may wisely and prudently 
accelerate our gathering strength, and add, if possible, a more 
resplendent lustre to our character as an Order. The fact that we 
are a closely united brotherhood, that our lines of jurisdiction are 
drawn for convenience or utility rather than as a sign of separa- 
ration, whether between nations or parts of one nationality, that 
they really are the golden threads which interweave and bind all 
parts into one grand union of strength, and that our relations 
to all peoples, governments, and institutions are cosmopolitan, 
the kindly offerings on our part of peace, good-will, and friend- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 379 

ship should be the source of heart-felt pride and gratification to 
every true Knight. May we not indulge the hope that at no 
distant day a certificate of lodge membership, with the Knights 
of Pythias seal attached and properly attested, will be a ready 
passport in our country, and find a Pythian welcome in every 
part of the world where civilization has made a footstep or founded 
a home ? When that time comes, as sure it must, the record of 
any other secret or benevolent order will appear by the side of 
our brilliant verse a mere punctuation mark in the great charter 
of modern events. 

Meeting upon this beautiful and time-honored spot of the Old 
Dominion, we are reminded of the historical fact, an interesting 
one, perhaps, in this connection, that this is the very place where 
the first Knight was created on Canadian soil. But the subject 
on whom that honor was conferred was a British General, and he 
was made a Sir Knight by the sovereign power of England for 
having captured an American fort just across the border. That 
place was Detroit, now one of the strongholds of our Order, which 
is gallantly represented here to-day in victorious possession of 
this new Pythian stronghold, a case of ample reparation , it would 
seem, for any former mistake of violence or improper conception 
of real knighthood among ruling powers. From such an histor- 
ical incident, a pleasing contrast of occurrences, we may note an 
illustration of the idea that friendship and gallantry of action are 
closely allied. They are indeed of the best fibre of the human 
heart; friendship more distinctly improved by association and 
the spread of intelligence. It has been called that mysterious 
cement of the soul that builds stronger than adamant the founda- 
tions of society, in support of the greatest of all beliefs among 
men — the only creed that will outlast the ravages of time and 
faction — " The Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God." 
The greatest hindrance to the thorough establishment and work- 
ing of this creed is the old snare-set policy of cultivating the under- 
standing at the expense of the heart. 

Let us not forget that we who are joined together for the ex- 
emplification of Pythian virtues, but receive the lighted torch of 
wisdom and experience from those who have preceded us, and 
hand it along to the next. In fulfilling our glorious office let us 



38O PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

also remember that the principles of our Order are but the inspi- 
rations of common sense, and belong of right to all mankind. 
Let us seek to extend them, therefore, that they may become 
more universally applied, until this most beautiful, symbolic system 
of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence for the government 
of all hearts is so firmly established that selfish combinations of 
power and misrule will be forever banished from human society. 
Brothers, I again extend to you, individually and as a body, 
the most cordial greeting of my heart, and again thank you. 

Supreme Chancellor Douglass, immediately after assum- 
ing the duties of his high office, went to work in an earn- 
est and careful manner to bring everything into complete 
harmony with the Constitution of the Supreme Lodge. 
For this purpose he took up the Constitution of each sep- 
arate Grand Lodge, and wherever he found provisions in 
conflict with the Supreme Lodge law he noted them, and 
pointed out to each Grand Jurisdiction the mode for rem- 
edying such defects. This work was not done for his own 
glorification, but solely and entirely for the good of the 
Order. To his suggestions and mandates every Grand 
Lodge yielded implicit obedience in regard to the alter- 
ations and amendments required, with the single exception 
of the Grand Chancellor and Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 
The following are the two chief reasons presented for re- 
fusing to obey the mandates of the Supreme Chancellor : 

First. A certain resolution adopted by the Grand 
Lodge of Pennsylvania, July, 1870, to wit: 

Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, under its char- 
ter and constitution, is the supreme authority of Pythian Knight- 
hood for all the purposes of State jurisdiction ; that it is irregular and 
improper for the Supreme Lodge to interfere with, or issue orders to, 
the Subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction, or to attempt to enforce 
any orders upon them during the recess of this body, or through any 
other agency than this Grand Lodge. (Journal Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania, July, 1870.) 

Second. That the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is an 
incorporated body ' ' under the laws of the Commonwealth 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 38 1 

of Pennsylvania," by a decree of the Supreme Court of 
Pennsylvania made on the 24th day of May, 1871. These 
articles of incorporation were amended on the 8th day of 
April, 1876, in due and legal form. 

The said amended Charter of Incorporation is now in 
full force and effect, and vests in the Grand Lodge of Penn- 
sylvania, by authority of the Commonwealth, the exclusive 
power of making and altering its Constitution. 

Article III of said amended Charter of Incorporation is 
as follows, viz.: 

The said corporation shall have full power and authority to 
enact and enforce a Constitution and such Rules and By-Laws as 
they shall consider necessary for the regulation and government 
of said corporation, and the promotion of its interest, and the 
same to alter, add to, and amend in such manner as the Constitution 
and By-Laws may prescribe. The Constitution and Laws now in 
force shall be and remain good and valid until altered, amended, or 
abrogated by said corporation ; provided, that such Constitution, 
Rules or By-Laws shall not be repugnant to, or inconsistent 
with, this charter, or the Constitution or laws of the United 
States, or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

In brief, then, Pennsylvania, through her Grand Lodge, 
claims the exclusive right to frame her own Constitution, 
regardless of the Supreme Lodge. This is fully set forth 
in the following series of resolutions adopted by the Grand 
Lodge of Pennsylvania in January, 1869, upon the ratifi- 
cation of the then submitted Constitution of the Supreme 
Lodge, viz.: 

Whereas, This Grand Lodge has been officially advised of the 
adoption and promulgation by the Supreme Lodge of a Constitution 
for the government of this and other Grand Lodges and the Subordi- 
nates under their jurisdiction ; and 

Whereas, This Grand Lodge being desirous at all times to 
render a cheerful obedience to all lawful mandates emanating from 
said Supreme Lodge ; and 

Whereas, This Grand Lodge is of opinion that the said Supreme 
Lodge, by its action in promulgating said Constitutions, exceeded 



382 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

its legitimate powers, and unlawfully endeavored to deprive this 
Grand Lodge of one of its most vital and important functions ; there- 
fore, be it 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge not only denies the right or 
power of said Supreme Lodge in the premises, but claims the exclusive 
right to form its own Constitution and that for the government of its 
Subordinates. Be it also 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge now proceed to adopt a Con- 
stitution for its government consistent with, and in conformity to, 
the Constitution of the Supreme Lodge, and that approval thereof be 
respectfully demanded of the Supreme Lodge.* 

These resolutions show that the claim of Pennsylvania 
was older than the "Articles of Incorporation" above 
referred to. The Supreme Chancellor claims, as does the 
Supreme Lodge, that the Supreme Lodge is the head of 
the Order, and that in the interim of the sessions of the 
Supreme Lodge, then the Supreme Chancellor is the 
supreme power. Thus is the issue joined between Penn- 
sylvania and the supreme head of the Order. The ques- 
tion must be settled once and for all time, and it can 
not be settled too soon. 

With the exception of this cloud that has arisen in 
the Keystone State, the sun has cast its brightest beams 
upon the administration of Supreme Chancellor Douglass. 
Every department of the Order has prospered under his 
administration. The Endowment Rank has added largely 
to its numbers and increased in usefulness to the Order. 
The Uniform Rank, of which Supreme Chancellor Doug- 
lass has ever been an ardent advocate and supporter, 
has not, in all its history, had such success as under his 
administration. The growth of the Grand Jurisdictions 
and Subordinate Lodges has been almost phenomenal. 

Turning now from the work and growth of the Order 
to its Supreme Chancellor, we present a short sketch of his 
personal history, which is worthy the attention of the 
Knighthood everywhere. 

* From circular of G. C. Colton, of Pa., in response to the demand 
of S. C. Douglass. — Author. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 383 

SUPREME CHANCELLOR HOWARD DOUGLASS 

Was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 21, 1846. He 
comes of stock that helped to form some of the earlier 
settlements of the North Atlantic coast, mainly in New 
Jersey. His father and grandfather were born in Newark, 
and he passed several years of childhood in that city 
amid scenes familiar to many of his more immediate an- 
cestry. He received the greater part of his education 
in the public and high schools of his native city. He 
was obliged to forego a thorough collegiate course on 
account of illness caused by asthma, which ailment, less 
severe, still clings to him; but, notwithstanding this, he 
entered with zeal and determination upon the study 
of law ; in due time received his diploma from the Cin- 
cinnati Law School, and after serving as clerk and as- 
sistant in his father's office, passed examination before 
the law board of Columbus in January, 1867, was imme- 
diately admitted to the bar and commenced the full prac- 
tice of law at the early age of twenty-one years. He 
continued in partnership with his father until 1875, when 
he took entire charge of the old office. Since then the 
rich promise of his earlier struggles and devotion to busi- 
ness have been fulfilled, and the expectation of himself 
and friends realized in the larger performance, wider influ- 
ence, and higher standing he now enjoys at the Cincinnati 
bar. There are few, if any, attorneys of his years and 
experience in the West who have a larger clientage or 
more lucrative and substantial practice. 

Hon. Howard Douglass has, without personal effort, 
and in most instances against his own preferences, been 
called to the enjoyment of public honors. He has for 
many years served as trustee for the school district in 
which he resides, and represented the same for several 
years in the School Board. He was twice elected a mem- 



384 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ber at large of the Board of Education by an overwhelming 
majority of the popular vote, which office he now holds. 
He served two terms as president of that board, refusing 
a third. He was for several years president of the board 
which had charge of the public library, and continued to 
act as chairman of the most important committees. In 
1884 he was appointed by the Mayor of Cincinnati a mem- 
ber of the Work-house Board of Cincinnati, a very respon- 
sible position, as this body, consisting of five members, 
has charge of the officers and employes of an institution 
which contains an average of six hundred prisoners, for 
whose safety and management it is held accountable. He 
shortly afterward resigned, but was soon reappointed for 
five years, and elected president of the board. 

He has frequently been urged by members of his own 
party, and nominations have been tendered him in advance, 
to run for political office, such as Mayor, State Senator, 
member of Congress and Lieutenant Governor, but he has 
invariably declined. 

Howard Douglass is an active member of several of the 
leading benevolent and secret organizations, having reached 
the 32d degree Scottish Rite in Freemasonry. He is more 
active and widely known among the Knights of Pythias, 
having by meritorious service and conduct attained an equal 
footing among the oldest and most prominent members 
of the Order. He was knighted in May, 1869, and so 
impressed with the simplicity of the work and its exempli- 
fication of the principles of Friendship, Charity, and Be- 
nevolence, that shortly afterwards he organized Douglass 
Lodge, No. 21, which has now become in membership, 
influence, and wealth the strongest in the State of Ohio, 
and is rapidly increasing. In 1870 he was elected Past 
Grand Chancellor for services that, in value to the Order, 
stand unrivaled in the jurisdiction, and at the Grand 
Lodge of that year he was elected Supreme Representa- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 385 

tive. In November, 1878, he organized Douglass Divis- 
ion, No. 2, of Ohio, U. R. K. P. 

Strong in his attachments to friends, sincere and ardent 
to the line of enthusiasm in discovering and pursuing the 
right pathways to success, he is indefatigable in advo- 
cating and pushing forward the new ideas and progressive 
features of the Order. He is eminently well-fitted for the 
position of presiding officer in any order, being keen to 
perceive, without undue haste to decide, but prompt and 
firm in his rulings and the execution of a decision once 
rendered. An occasion well calculated to exhibit the 
higher qualities of head and heart was during the unprece- 
dented floods of 1883 and 1884 on the Ohio river. He 
was then President of the Board of Education, and it was 
mainly through his forethought and prompt action that 
thousands who were made homeless and destitute by the 
swelling waters were timely sheltered and provided for in 
the public school buildings of Cincinnati bordering on the 
flooded districts. He was also active and vigilant in pro- 
curing and forwarding supplies of food, clothing and funds 
to the distressed of our brotherhood in cities above and 
below the " Queen City." 

He is a tireless worker, and any task, no matter 
how arduous, once undertaken by him, is assiduously 
pursued until successfully accomplished. But it is for 
qualities of the heart rather than the head that our 
brother is esteemed by all who enjoy the privilege of his 
acquaintance. He is a Knight of Pythias in every sense 
of the term, faithful, self-sacrificing, possessing all the 
attributes of soul that characterize the highest type of 
God's creation. Of a sunny, genial disposition, quick of 
appreciation, full of genuine humor, and, withal, an ac- 
complished gentleman, he is socially a most agreeable 
companion, and is constantly surrounded by a host of 
kindred spirits who are capable of admiring such qualities. 



386 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



GEN. WILLIAM WARD, S. V. C. 



The second officer of the Supreme Lodge for this period 
is General William Ward, of New Jersey, and, following 
the custom of the Supreme Lodge, he will be the suc- 
cessor of Supreme Chancellor Howard Douglass. 

General William Ward, Supreme Vice Chancellor, and 
Supreme Representative, was born in the city of Newark, 
N. J., where he still resides. He was identified with the 
manufacturing and mercantile interests of the city of his 
birth until the War of the Rebellion, when he gave up his 
business as merchant to become Captain of Company D, 
8th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, and was mustered 
into service August 29, 1861. 

The 8th Regiment was assigned to General Hooker's 
Division, which eventually became 2d Division, 3d Army 
Corps. He took part in the blockade of the Lower Poto- 
mac during the Winter of 1861-62. Went to the Penin- 
sula in April, 1862, and participated in the siege of 
Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair 
Oaks, Seven Days' Retreat, and Malvern Hill. In July, 
1862, he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
assumed command of the Regiment, the Colonel being ab- 
sent on account of wounds received. 

Hooker's Division was among the first to leave the 
Peninsula and join in the Pope Campaign, and while Col. 
Ward was at the head of his Regiment at the Second 
Manassas, he received two balls through the left arm, one 
through the right leg below the knee, and one above 
the knee, and one through the nose. The arm was so 
shattered that the surgeons were compelled to amputate 
it at the shoulder joint, while the wound in the leg has 
never healed. These wounds disabled him from future 
service in the field and kept him confined three years. 

Upon regaining sufficient strength he was appointed 
Assistant City Clerk in 1867, an ^ m *868 he was promoted 




GEN'L WILLIAM WARD, 



Supreme Vice-Chancellor. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. ^7 

to City Clerk, remaining there until July, 1869. ^ e was 
then appointed Postmaster by General Grant, where he 
remained until 1886. 

His service in the Order has been continuous since his 
initiation in 1869. He was elected Grand Vice Chancellor 
in 1875, Grand Chancellor in 1876, and in this office 
headed the Jurisdiction of New Jersey at the great cen- 
tennial parade at Philadelphia, receiving especial commen- 
dation for his excellent management on that occasion. 
He was elected Supreme Representative first for the ses- 
sion of 1878, at Indianapolis. His ability and excellent 
judgment caused him to be placed on the very responsible 
Committee on Endowment Rank at this session, followed 
at the next session by becoming a member of the Finance 
Committee, and succeeded to the chairmanship of the Fi- 
nance Committee at the session at New Orleans, 1884. 

Faithful to every trust, zealous for the welfare of the 
Order he loves, sparing no effort or thought to advance its 
interests, he commands the respect of all his associates in 
the Supreme Lodge, while his large, loving heart secures 
the affection of those who know him best. 

In his own jurisdiction Supreme Vice Chancellor Ward 
is looked upon as a tower of strength, and there is scarcely 
a Castle Hall in New Jersey but that has felt the benefit 
of his kindly counsel. His whole life in the Order has 
been one of great activity and zeal, and the efforts he has 
put forth to elevate the tone and dignity of the Order in 
this State have been crowned with great success. The 
Order in this jurisdiction at the present time holds a very 
marked position among our secret organizations, and this 
is due mostly to his clear foresight and keen judgment. 
No member of our Order to-day is as well known and uni- 
versally admired throughout the jurisdiction of New Jersey 
as the subject of our sketch. He is constantly being 
called upon from various lodges to visit them and talk to 



388 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

them about the Order, and, unless prevented by some 
good reason, he gladly responds to the calls upon him. 
The amount of good he has done in his State is fully 
known to every Knight in New Jersey. 

General Ward's prominence as a citizen of his State, his 
many years of activity in public life, in which he exhibited 
unusual ability, and which served to draw out those char- 
acteristic features of strict integrity and honesty in all his 
dealings with his fellow-men, drew around him a large 
circle of friends, and no man enjoys more fully the confi- 
dence of the people than he. His service as post- 
master of Newark for twelve years has brought him more 
prominently before the people as a man of sterling qual- 
ities. This fact, together with his labor in behalf of 
the Order, has been the means of bringing into its ranks 
many of our best citizens, and the jurisdiction looks up to 
him as its great benefactor. 

His re-election so many times by the jurisdiction as 
Supreme Representative only faintly exhibits the entire 
confidence his constituents have placed in him, and his 
election as Supreme Vice Chancellor in 1886 fully proved 
the esteem and confidence reposed in him by the Supreme 
Lodge. 

JOHN WESLEY THOMPSON. 

John Wesley Thompson, Supreme Outer Guard, was 
born in Washington, D. C, May 4, 1827. Having had a 
limited opportunity of education, at the age of sixteen 
years was apprenticed to the plastering business, and fol- 
lowed the same until 1849. In January, 1850, he entered 
the Ordnance Laboratory, Washington Navy Yard, and 
has been continuously so employed as quarterman and 
foreman, and the latter position he still holds. In 1 861 he 
was commissioned by President Lincoln a first lieutenant 
in the District Militia. He was one of the organizers of 
the paid Fire Department of Washington City, and Presi- 




JOHN WESLEY THOMPSON, 

Supreme Outer Guard. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



389 



dent of the Board of Fire Commissioners for four and half 
years; he was also a member of the Board of Health. His 
connection with the Order of Knights of Pythias began 
March, 1868, being a charter member of Calanthe Lodge, 
No. 11, K. of P., and its first Chancellor Commander. He 
entered the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia and 
was elected Grand Vice Chancellor, January, 1869, and 
upon the resignation of Grand Chancellor, was elected 
Grand Chancellor to fill the unexpired term. He was 
elected Supreme Outer Guard in 1876, and has continu- 
ously filled said office to date. He is a member of Wash- 
ington Division, No. 1, Uniform Rank, and a member 
of Section No. 6, Endowment Rank. He was admitted as 
a member of Bay Side Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F., in St. 
Michaels, Talbott County, Md., July 29, 1849. Withdraw- 
ing February, 1864, and connecting with Harmony Lodge, 
No. 9, Washington, D. C, passing the chairs of the Lodge, 
and entering the Grand Lodge, was elected Grand War- 
den, July, 1870; Deputy Grand Master, July, 1871 ; and 
Grand Master, July, 1872, always taking an active part in 
the organizations. 




390 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 




ENDOWMENT RANK. 

THE organization of the Or- 
der was effected, it was 
decided that the Knights 
of Pythias should be sim- 
ply a benevolent society. 
It was not thought to 
carry that benevolence be- 
yond the actual wants of 
the members during their 
lives, and to provide for 
the burial of the dead, 
and care for the widows 
and orphans of deceased Knights, as their necessities 
might require. But larger benevolent plans by and for the 
Knighthood soon began to be devised. While much had 
been expended in the charities above named, this, in 
the judgment of many, fell far short of the good that 
might be accomplished by united effort for the more sub- 
stantial relief of those whose homes might be destroyed 
when the stay and support of the family should be taken 
away by death. 

At the seventh annual session of the Supreme Lodge, 
held in Washington, D. C, May, 1875, these views cul- 
minated in a proposal to establish a ' ' Knights of Pythias 
Benevolent Association." The plan was first presented to 
the Supreme Lodge by Representative B. F. Ludwig, of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 39 1 

Alabama, and its name and the objects were very tersely- 
stated in the proposed constitution as follows: 

ARTICLE I. 

Section i. This Society shall be known as the Knights of 
Pythias Benevolent Society, and by that name is incorpo- 
rated under the laws of the Supreme Lodge, Knights of Pythias 
of the World. 

Sec. 2. The business and the object of this Society shall be 
to give financial benefit to the widows, orphans, heirs, or devi- 
sees of deceased members. 

The plan contemplated a board of directors of not 
more than two members from each Grand Lodge Jurisdic- 
tion of the Order, each to serve for the term of two years, 
the first board of directors to be composed of members of 
that Supreme Lodge session. The plan for providing 
a mortuary fund was to be by assessment. It provided 
for a board of medical examiners, to ' ' consist of three 
regularly educated physicians, " their duty being to make 
personal examination of all applicants reported to them 
by the officers or agents of the society, carefully ex- 
amine all risks, and, to the best of their ability, guard the 
welfare and safety of the society. 

The requisite qualifications for membership were that 
the applicant must be an affiliated member of the Knight's 
Rank ; sound and in good health, and between twenty-one 
and sixty years of age. The membership fee was fixed at 
six dollars, and the assessments for the payment of death 
losses were "to be on a sliding scale" according to age, 
so that each member should be required to pay in the 
ratio of the mortality of his own age, the ratio to be 
ascertained for periods of ten years each. The total 
amount to be paid to the widow or heirs was in no case 
to exceed five thousand dollars. 



392 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

It also provided for a permanent fund to be raised from 
membership fees, and from the unused assessments; 
said fund was to be securely invested by the board of 
directors to be used for the following purposes: First, 
that benefits might be paid to the heirs or legal represen- 
tatives of deceased members, before the assessments are 
collected from the survivors; second, to insure stability 
and perpetuity, to make up the deficit caused by those 
who fail to pay assessments, and for whom benefits have 
been paid, and to provide for other contingencies that may 
arise; third, to pay for printing, and all other necessary 
expenses of management. 

It might have been well for the Committee on Endow- 
ment Rank two years after this plan was presented to have 
re-examined it, and profited by some of the very wholesome 
suggestions contained therein. The plan had in it some 
excellent features, which would have made it a far better 
basis for the starting of an endowment or insurance rank, 
than the one adopted in 1877. Brother Ludwig evidently 
had faith in the ultimate success and growth of his project, 
for, in the second section of the article, creating a perma- 
nent fund, he provided that: " Whenever the board of 
directors by a two-thirds vote shall decide that the perma- 
nent fund is larger than required for the purposes herein 
named, benefits may be paid out of the permanent fund 
without making assessment upon the surviving members, 
who have been members of the society for jive full years. " 

This plan of insurance was referred to the Committee 
on Law and Supervision, who, after careful consideration, 
offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the proposed " Constitution for the Knights of 
Pythias Benevolent Society" be referred to the Committee on the 
State of the Order, to report at the next session. 

The resolution was adopted, and the whole matter 
went over. At the session of 1876, the Committee on the 
State of the Order made the following report : 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 393 

The Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was re- 
ferred ' ' A Proposed Constitution for a Knights of Pythias Be- 
nevolent Society, " submit the following report : 

Your committee, after a careful examination of said consti- 
tution, recognize that it contains the essential requisites of a 
proper basis upon which to organize and institute a society of the 
kind and character proposed; and, in the opinion of your com- 
mittee, if the Supreme Lodge should determine at this time to 
authorize the institution of an organization of the kind, and for 
the purposes proposed, said constitution should be referred to the 
Committee of the Whole for discussion and amendment. 

They therefore recommend that said proposed constitution 

lay on the table until the day of this session, at — o'clock, 

at which time the same shall be considered in* Committee of the 
Whole. 

This report was recommitted to the same committee, 
and later in the session they presented another report very 
different from that which might have been expected, after 
their seeming endorsement of the proposed constitution. 
The final report on the proposition was : 

The Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was 
recommitted the report on page 1273, on a "Proposed Consti- 
tution for a Knights of Pythias Benevolent Society," report that 
in the judgment of your committee it is inexpedient \ at this time, 
for the Supreme Lodge to adopt, endorse, or sanction any organiza- 
tion of the kind and character, as provided in the document sub- 
mitted. The committee recommend that the whole matter be 
indefinitely postponed. 

This report was adopted, and thus the plan for a general 
endowment society, to be co-extensive with the Supreme 
Jurisdiction, was not killed but put to sleep, to be wakened 
with a stronger force and more vitality at the following 
session of the Supreme Lodge. 

While Brother Ludwig's plans were not endorsed at 
that time, yet to him is due the honor of being the father 



394 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of the Knights of Pythias endowment or life insurance 
Rank, under the fostering care and guidance of the Su- 
preme Lodge, and the members of the committee that 
reported adversely to him have since become warm sup- 
porters and advocates of our Endowment Rank. 

The question of life insurance was destined to play an 
important part in the future legislation of the Order. 
S. S. Davis, then the Supreme Chancellor, in his report to 
the Supreme Lodge in 1876, said on this topic : 

The subject of compulsory insurance has been agitating the 
minds of members in some jurisdictions, and now is brought be- 
fore you for definite action. The Grand Lodge of Illinois has 
adopted such a law as an amendment to their constitution for 
Subordinate Lodges, and makes it binding upon all their mem- 
bers to pay the assessment. This law has met the opposition of 
the members of some of the lodges who decline paying the as- 
sessments until the measure is approved by the Supreme Lodge. 
Others have paid the assessments under protest, I am informed, 
and wait your action. The Grand Lodge of Minnesota also 
passed such a law, and submitted it to me for approval. I did 
not wish to rule on so important a matter, especially as the sub- 
ject was submitted to you at the last session. I suggested that 
the law be brought before your body for consideration and settle- 
ment. It is contended by some that such a law is necessary to 
the existence of the Order in their localities, to the end that larger 
funeral benefits may be guaranteed to the members. I confess 
there are many valid objections to this view. Had it been a law 
from the beginning it would have worked no hardship to the 
present membership. Now there are many members who could 
not pass a sufficiently rigid medical exa?nination to entitle them to 
membership ; and to force in such, on an equality with others 
of better health, would eventually result in large and frequent 
assessments. To introduce such a provision now would virtually 
be engrafting a new feature upon our Order ; one that was not 
intended or contemplated, and the matter should be carefully 
considered by this body before permitting it to be enforced in 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE, 395 

any jurisdiction. Although it may be favorably received by 
some lodges, I fear it would result in ruin to others. If it is 
thought advisable, however, to establish this insurance feature in 
our Order, I would suggest that an Insurance Rank be adopted, 
working independent of all others, (/. e., Ranks,) except that 
none of lower Rank than Knights should become members, and 
all to pass a proper medical examination. This method would 
require great care in the preparation of the laws and rules gov- 
erning it, but might be made as practical as any other system. 

No member of the Supreme Lodge could be in favor 
of a compulsory system of insurance, and Supreme Chan- 
cellor Davis, in the above report, struck the key-note, 
that had first been touched by Brother Ludwig, of Ala- 
bama, when he suggested the advisability of a separate 
Rank. One peculiar trait of Brother S. S. Davis is 
brought out very plainly in the closing portion of this part 
of his report, viz., his extreme caution. He closes this 
portion of his report with these sentences: ' 'We cannot 
well afford to make any radical changes in this direction 
which will impose greater financial obligations upon the 
members than at present required, or that will cause 
any dissensions and divisions. We need peace and 
uniform laws until the Order shall have rallied from 
the effects of past changes, and the present business 
depression." 

It is not our intention to go into any review of what 
might be termed state legislation on this question of life 
insurance, being content to notice only such matters as 
were acted on by the Supreme Lodge for the Supreme 
Jurisdiction, to show the feeling of the leading spirits of 
the Order on this subject. 

With the report of the Committee on the State 
of the Order, on the constitution presented by Brother 
Ludwig, the legislation of the Supreme Lodge for the 
session of 1876, on the subject of endowment or life 



396 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

insurance, closed. The subject, however, was still agitated, 
and the sentiment in its favor became stronger month 
by month, until the Supreme Lodge convened in its 
ninth annual session at Cleveland, Ohio, in August, 1877. 
Shortly after the gavel had called that body to order, 
Supreme Chancellor S. S. Davis, in his address and re- 
port to the Supreme Lodge, again brought the subject of 
an Endowment Rank to the attention of the Supreme 
Representatives. He said on the question of 

ENDOWMENT : 

As this matter came before you at the last session, and so 
emphatic an expression was given relative to it, I did not intend 
to refer to it in my report at this session. But judging from re- 
ports and letters received from several jurisdictions, it is a matter 
that affects the existence of the Order in certain localities. This 
being the case, it should receive your serious consideration. 
You have wisely determined that a compulsory enactment em- 
bracing the endowment plan, compelling all members of the 
Order in any jurisdiction to comply with it, is impracticable if 
not impossible. There is now a strong desire that some plan 
may be adopted that shall embrace all the practical features of 
other organizations that have adopted this system of insurance, 
and which shall be universal in its application and management, 
with all those who shall voluntarily enter into it. Many plans 
have been suggested, but I believe that this can be done in no way 
so well, and result in so great benefit to the Order generally, as 
to create a Rank that shall cover this whole question, and em- 
brace all the wise features of other organizations. * * * * 

I have given this matter much thought, and I fully believe 
that it would meet the demand of all who so much desire 
this feature adopted, and that it would create an interest in the 
Order which nothing else could. It certainly would in no way 
embarrass the present working and prosperity of our Subordinate 
Lodges. It will prevent our members seeking other organiza- 
tions that have this feature so prominent. It will prevent the 
great draft upon our Order by suspensions for non-payment of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE 397 

dues, which has been larger the past year than ever before. I 
have received letters from officers and prominent members of dif- 
ferent jurisdictions, saying if some steps are not taken soon by 
the Supreme Lodge in this direction, their lodges, both Grand 
and Subordinate, will cease to exist. These representations and 
appeals have induced me to take the position I have, and to 
urge this matter on your attention and careful and prompt con- 
sideration. Some facts have come to my knowledge which I am 
not at liberty to speak of here, which leads me to feel the impor- 
tance of some action at this session, and to urge it as I do. Be- 
fore you reject this matter entirely, I trust you will give it your 
serious and unprejudiced consideration. I would recommend 
that this subject be referred to a special committee early in the 
session, and that they be requested to report at the earliest mo- 
ment possible. 

The foregoing portion of the Supreme Chancellor's re- 
port was referred to a special committee consisting of W. 
Bryce Thompson, of Tennessee, John H. Meech, of New 
York, and James W. Mavity, of Kentucky, and afterward, 
on motion of Representative Thompson, Past Supreme 
Chancellor J. H. Rathbone was added to the committee. 

Prior, however, to the appointment of the commit- 
tee on the Supreme Chancellor's report, Representative 
James W. Mavity, of Kentucky, offered the following res- 
olution in reference to the Endowment Rank : 

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, whose duty it 
shall be to prepare and report to this body, Written and Unwritten 
Work for a Fourth Rank of the Order, with provisions similar to 
those suggested under the head of "Endowment," in the Supreme 
Chancellor's Report. 

This resolution was sent to the Committee on the State 
of the Order, but afterward it, with all other matters pertain- 
ing to the "Endowment Rank Scheme, "as it was then 
called, went to the special committee above named. The 
members of that committee were careful, conscientious 
men, who earnestly desired to do all that could be done 



398 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

for the best interests of the Order everywhere. The 
engrafting of an insurance branch upon the Order was like 
the launching of a new boat on an unknown sea, subject 
to many and severe tempests. Many there were who 
doubted the propriety of the Supreme Lodge taking upon 
itself the risk of an enterprise that was fraught with so 
much danger. The Order was destined to spread through- 
out all the United States, north and south, east and west, 
and in this work it was certain that its powers of cohesion 
would be severely tested. It was thought best not to 
hasten the report and work of preparation for this Rank, 
and a careful and prudent course was pursued by the 
Committee on the State of the Order, for we find that 
Representative S. P. Oyler, of Indiana, as chairman of 
that committee, made the following report, which was 
adopted : 

The Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was re- 
ferred the resolution of Representative Mavity of Kentucky, on 
page 1408, in reference to an endowment scheme, and accompa- 
nying papers, submit the following report : 

That, having fairly examined the proposition contained in 
the documents, and being satisfied of the prevalence of the feel- 
ings mentioned therein, and probable necessity for the legislation 
asked for, the committee also recognize the danger of hurried 
action, resulting in crude and unsatisfactory work and action, 
and hence fully concur in the resolution of Supreme Representa- 
tive Mavity, and recommend that said resolution be adopted. 

The Special Committee on Endowment Rank then took 
the entire matter in charge, and examined and discussed 
the plans proposed for the insurance or endowment 
scheme, and having become more and more impressed 
with the wisdom of the old adage to " make haste slowly, " 
embodied their views on the subject in the following 
report : 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 399 

Your committee to whom was referred so much of the Su- 
preme Chancellor's report, found on pages 1378 and 1379, as 
relates to "Endowment," also propositions on the same subject 
from the Grand Jurisdictions of Kentucky and Rhode Island, 
beg leave to report that they have given the whole subject a care- 
ful and patient consideration. 

After hearing statements from Representatives from many 
Grand Jurisdictions, and reading a number of urgent communi- 
cations from many quarters upon this subject, we are convinced 
that the adoption of a feature of this character, and its adoption 
at the present session of the Supreme Lodge, is a matter of 
exceeding importance to some of our jurisdictions, involving, in- 
deed, the continued existence of the Order of Knights of Pythias. 
We therefore recommend the adoption of an endowment scheme, 
a participation in the benefits of which shall be optional with 
each member of the Knight's Rank, and shall be secured by 
membership in the Endowment Rank, the written and unwritten 
work for which we herewith submit in accordance with instruc- 
tions to the committee. 

The duties of the officers in the Endowment Rank, and the 
details in connection therewith of the process for levying and 
collecting the assessments, the committee have not had the time 
to write out in full, and having adopted a resolution to adjourn 
to-night, the Supreme Lodge will not have time to act upon the 
same in detail. 

As before stated, the committee are fully impressed with the 
absolute necessity of this matter in order to insure the prosperity, 
and, indeed, even the continued existence of our Order in many 
jurisdictions; we recommend that the Rank herewith presented 
be adopted, and an endowment scheme in connection therewith. 

We further recommend that a committee of five, of which 
Brother J. H. Rathbone shall be chairman, be appointed to perfect 
the Endowment Rank and scheme, and when their report is com- 
plete it shall be referred to the Supreme Chancellor and Su- 
preme Keeper of Records and Seal for approval, who are hereby 
authorized to have the necessary rituals and rules, blanks, etc. , 
printed and issued in order that the endowment scheme be put 
in operation at the earliest day possible. 



4-00 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The report of the special committee was adopted. 

The Supreme Chancellor appointed Representatives 
Oyler, of Indiana, Thompson, of Tennessee, Griffiths, of 
Kentucky, and Firestone, of Ohio, as members of the com- 
mittee to perfect the endowment scheme ; which appoint- 
ments were confirmed, and, on motion of Representative 
Halsey, of Wisconsin, the Supreme Chancellor, Supreme 
Vice Chancellor, Supreme Master of Exchequer, and Su- 
preme Keeper of Records and Seal were added to the 
committee. 

After the adjournment of the Supreme Lodge this 
special committee at once entered upon their duties. The 
time taken by the committee to prepare the details for 
such a great undertaking, which, in the language of the 
first special committee, was one ' ' of exceeding importance 
to some of our jurisdictions, involving, indeed, the contin- 
ued existence of the Order of Knights of Pythias," seems 
to us now to have been very short indeed, for in less than 
six weeks they made the following report : 

Cincinnati, O., September 29, 1877, P. P. XIV. 

To the Supreme Chancellor, and Supreme Keeper of Records and 
Seal, of the Order of Knights of Pythias. 

Brothers: — Agreeable with instructions of the Supreme 
Lodge, at its late session in Cleveland, the committee to whom 
was referred the preparation and completion of all the necessary 
details connected with the Endowment Rank adopted by the 
Supreme Lodge, have the honor to announce that they have 
performed the duty required of them, and submit as the result of 
their labors: 

First. A Complete Ritual and Installation Service. 

Second. General Laws for the Government of the Endow- 
ment Rank of the Order of Knights of Pythias. 

Third. Constitution for Sections of the Endowment Rank of 
the Knights of Pythias. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 4OI 

The most careful and complete consideration has been given 
to the matter in question ; and the reports of the several sub- 
committees acted upon, and approved by the general committee, 
are herewith forwarded. 

In the hope that the result of our labors may prove accepta- 
ble to the fraternity, and be productive of beneficial results, we 
remain, Truly yours, J. H. Rathbone, Chairman. 

In the light of subsequent events we can now see that 
it was a most dangerous cargo that was thus placed on 
board our Pythian craft. Supreme Chancellor Davis fully 
realized that this was the case, and both S. K. of R, and 
S. Joseph Dowdall and himself seem to have been actuated 
by a spirit of gentle irony when they penned and pub- 
lished the following : 

Cincinnati, O., September 30, 1877, P. P. XIV. 

The undersigned are satisfied that the committee appointed 
by the Supreme Lodge, at its August session, 1877, to perfect 
the Endowment Rank, have performed that duty as best they 
could in the short time that they were together in consultation. 

S. S. Davis, S. C. 

Joseph Dowdall, S. K. of R. and S. 

They prepared not only a ritual designed for the secret 
or ceremonial work of this new Rank, but in addition 
thereto the laws that were to govern the financial and in- 
surance system of the Rank. To those who have made 
the question of life insurance a life work, and who know 
of the long years of toil and study that the most thought- 
ful minds of the world have given to it, the celerity with 
which these plans were developed, instead of inspiring 
confidence in the Knighthood, brought only distrust re- 
garding the entire scheme ; and this distrust was further in- 
creased, because it was just about the time of the failure 
of numerous life insurance companies that seemed to be 
hedged about with all the precautionary measures that 



402 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

could be devised by the talent and genius of the insurance 
profession. The entire plan seemed to the careful and 
prudent to be full of pitfalls and dangers for those who 
were expected to insure their lives and put their hard- 
earned money into it, and, if possible, even more dangerous 
to the Supreme Lodge. This suspicion, however, was not 
shared by all, for many did not give the subject the atten- 
tion and study that it deserved. 

The General Laws for the government of the Endow- 
ment Rank were divided into six Articles. 

The first Article defined and prescribed the "Powers 
of the Supreme Lodge." This applied to its power to in- 
stitute or establish this Rank, and to provide rituals, forms, 
etc. ; to provide pass-words for the Rank ; to provide for 
a revenue for the Supreme Lodge from the sale of sup- 
plies ; to grant warrants for the establishment of Sections 
of the Endowment Rank, and to enact laws for their gov- 
ernment; to provide for and define the duties of all offi- 
cers; to create, hold and disburse the funds. 

Article second was headed "Jurisdiction," and defined 
how Sections should be formed, and the numbers required 
for formation. 

Article three provided and specified the ' ' Officers for a 
Section." 

Article four, on which hinged the life and perpetuity 
of the Rank, we give in full: " No person shall be admit- 
ted to this Rank who is not in possession of the Third or 
Chivalric Rank of Knight, and in good standing in the 
Order of Knights of Pythias, and not over fifty years of 
age, nor unless he be reported favorably upon by a com- 
mittee of investigation, and is recommended by some com- 
petent practicing physician, (if possible a member of the 
Rank,) who shall have examined into his physical condi- 
tion, giving a certificate in the form prescribed by the 
Rank, nor unless the necessary fee accompany the appli- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 403 

cation, and he pass a fair ballot; provided, until June I, 
1878, all members of the Knights of Pythias may become 
members of the Endowment Rank without regard to age, 
provided they possess the other required qualifications." 
Article five provided for " Warrants and Supplies." 
Article six defined the "Duties of Supreme Officers." 
These laws, as prepared by the committee, were 
printed and sent out to all the lodges of the Supreme 
Jurisdiction the latter part of November, 1877. This 
must be said of the work of the special committee, that 
they tried to make the laws so plain and simple that every 
member of the Order could understand them. If they 
were not perfect in all particulars, the committee did not 
differ from the framers of laws in all ages and countries, 
and the matter of co-operative life insurance was not so 
well understood at that time as it is now. 

Supreme Chancellor S. S. Davis, who had been most 
influential in bringing about the organization of this Rank, 
was untiring in his efforts to have it introduced into the 
Order generally. Where every-day experience in the 
working of the Rank developed omissions in the law that 
should have been provided for or guarded, he tried to 
remedy the defects by official circulars or by decisions 
that would tide the Rank over the shoals and rocks, and 
through the breakers, until this vessel, with its precious 
cargo, could come safely into the harbor of the next Su- 
preme Lodge for repairs. 

The life of this Rank is due in a very large measure to 
the personal work of Brother Davis. He carried it into 
the next session (1878) of the Supreme Lodge, and in his 
report to that body shows how thoroughly he had studied 
the workings of the endowment system, and how well 
adapted his mind was to master the situation, and some of 
the plans he then recommended have since been put into 
successful operation. 



404 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

This Rank, although meeting- fierce opposition from 
many sources in the Order, was not long in finding 
a strong lodgment in the Order. 

Says Brother Davis, at the session of August, 1878, in 
referring to the progress of the Endowment Rank : 

I can but congratulate the friends of the Rank upon its rapid 
growth, and the strong endorsement of the action of the Su- 
preme Lodge at the last session. Some felt, after reading in 
the papers the objections raised against it, that it would strug- 
gle along with a feeble existence. Such was not my belief. I 
knew its friends were many, and were working earnestly for its 
complete success. 

November 21, 1877, the first supplies were sent out from the 
office of the S. M. of E. ***** To the date of this 
report going to press, Warrants have been issued for 235 Sec- 
tions. I am informed by the S. M. of E. that there are 3,274 
members in the first Class, and 5,356 members in the second 
Class. Sections are instituted in thirty-five States, besides On- 
tario, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Territory of Wyoming. 
There have been two deaths in the first Class, which have been 
paid without making any assessment. In the second Class there 
have been fourteen deaths and six assessments. The increase of 
membership was so rapid that the maximum sum of $2,000 was 
paid in the second Class to all excepting at the first death, and 
the full amount of $1,000 has been paid on all deaths in the first 
Class. As the first Sections were instituted November 27, 1877, 
the work embraced in this report has been done within nine 
months, so far as relates to the institution of Sections and the 
initiation of members. 

Never in all the history of society insurance was shown 
such remarkable growth in so short a space of time, and 
yet it but illustrated the abiding faith and trust the Knight- 
hood had in the Order, and in one another, for what was 
this insurance but the pledge one brother made to the 
other to protect and care for the loved ones of the brother 
Knight ? It was the full exemplification of confidence 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 405 

that is so strongly developed by the teachings of the 
Order. 

Supreme Chancellor Davis found a very able and earn- 
est co-worker in the person of the then Supreme Master of 
Exchequer, John B. Stumph. In many respects Brother 
Stumph was the balance-wheel to the machinery of this 
Rank. He was anxious for the life and growth of this 
young child of the Order, and believed that it could thrive 
only on the proper food. He insisted upon a more 
thorough and rigid examination of applicants for the 
Rank. In his report at the session of 1878, on this sub- 
ject, he charges the plan then in vogue with "looseness in 
admitting members," and says : "The present form of ap- 
plication was prepared by the Supreme Chancellor. As 
soon as I saw it, it impressed itself on my mind as not suf- 
ficiently guarded, and I wrote to Supreme Chancellor Da- 
vis and sent him the form the I. O. O. F. of Indiana have 
and still use, which I thought a great improvement, and 
which, with a few changes, we could adapt to our use. 
Said form was returned to me by the Supreme Chancellor, 
with the remark that it was too much like an application 
for regular life insurance, which we did not want. The 
Supreme Chancellor may be right in his views that we do 
not want so strict rules as regular life insurance companies, 
yet it is very clear that the nearer we adhere to the prin- 
ciples which underlie all life insurance, whether called En- 
dowment, Mutual Aid, Benefit or Protection Societies, 
the more certain and sure the object for which we are or- 
ganized will be attained. We cannot admit every member 
of the Order. The existence of the Rank would certainly 
be very limited. We must have a safety line." 

This was spoken as a business man, and in a thor- 
oughly business-like way, and though it took some time 
for the Supreme Lodge to get over sentimental ideas in 
regard to this life insurance question in the Order, it has 



406 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

been getting nearer and nearer to business rules and prin- 
ciples every year. 

A strong pressure was brought to bear from the out- 
set to admit members to this Rank who had passed the 
age of fifty years, and on this subject Brother Stumph 
spoke in no uncertain manner in his report. He said : 
"The fundamental principle of our Order is against the 
admission to Knighthood of men over fifty years of age. 
They can only do so by special dispensation. It is simply 
suicidal to give them an endowment in addition. I have 
stated elsewhere, and will again state here, that an old 
man who can see no other good in the Order of Knights 
of Pythias than to get an endowment, is not a proper sub- 
ject even to make a Knight of. The American tables of 
mortality show that starting at the age of ten years, eight 
per cent, die before reaching the age of twenty-one years, 
and twenty-two per cent, die between the ages of twenty- 
one and fifty, and nearly seventy per cent, die after fifty 
years of age. This will show at a glance the utter folly of 
filling up the Rank with old men. In a few years the as- 
sessments would be so frequent that the membership 
would be unable to pay them, and the Rank must break 
down of its own weight. I firmly believe that if the Rank 
should fail from any cause, bad management, defalcation, 
or bad legislation, at this or any subsequent session of the 
Supreme Lodge, which I pray kind Providence may pre- 
vent, the Order will not survive." 

This first report of the workings of the Rank shows 
that from its organization to the date of closing the report 
for the Supreme Lodge session, the first nine months of 
its existence, the death losses amounted to $19,517. 

The Supreme Lodge in its legislation for this Rank, 
as in all other matters, has shown that it is not hedged in 
by any arbitrary rules, but is an Order of progress. From 
the first it has honestly sought for the best methods in its 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 407 

management, and has endeavored to gather strength and 
wisdom from the experiences of similar organizations, so 
as to ultimately make it an absolutely safe insurance organ- 
ization. That it has accomplished good for the Knight- 
hood is beyond all question. In the first decade of its 
existence it has brought to the homes of our brothers, re- 
lief from want when the support that came from the brain 
and arm of husband and father was cut off by death. The 
Endowment fund that has been paid to the widow has 
preserved the homestead from being sold from over the 
heads of the fatherless ones, and has helped to educate the 
orphans and place them in honorable places in society, and 
has made of them good and useful citizens. 

Said Supreme Chancellor D. B. Woodruff, in his re- 
port to the Supreme Lodge, session of 1880: "As this 
branch of our Order is to-day the all-absorbing one of 
interest to its members, so it is in my judgment the most 
potent one for good or ill to the future welfare of our be- 
loved Order. If some of the evils which now exist under 
the present system shall be removed, and new features 
added, which experience suggests and safety dictates, then 
it will be a power for good." 

Said Supreme Chancellor Lindsey, in his report at the 
session of 1882: "This branch of the Order is a most im- 
portant one, and as a means of life insurance, should rec- 
ommend itself to every member. The multiplicity of in- 
surance societies throughout the country proves most 
conclusively that there is ample support for them, when 
conducted upon a firm basis and under equitable laws. 
Many associations, similar in construction to the Endow- 
ment Rank, are now existing and flourishing to a greater 
or less degree, and it should be our aim to establish our 
own organization on the best and surest foundation. The 
improvements in the laws made at the last session have 
been very beneficial to this Rank, especially the legisla- 



408 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

tion which created the office of Medical Examiner-in-Chief. 
This officer has, in my opinion, been of incalculable serv- 
ice, protecting the Rank in more than one instance from 
bad risks." 

Said Supreme Chancellor John P. Linton, in his report 
to the Supreme Lodge, session 1884: "In co-operative 
insurance, such as that of the Endowment Rank, three 
things should especially be considered: first, security; 
second, promptness in paying loses, and third, economy. 
It is believed the first requisite is possessed in an eminent 
degree by our Endowment Rank. The very nature of the 
organization is a guarantee more solid than a heavy re- 
serve in possibly depreciating bonds and securties, that so 
frequently 'take unto themselves wings and fly away.' 
And the trustworthy brother who has, as Supreme Master 
of Exchequer,* managed the financial affairs of the Rank 
since its organization, has shown a commendable pride in 
meeting with promptness every legitimate claim for the 
Endowment benefit. As to the third requisite, economy 
in the operative expenses of the Rank at financial head- 
quarters is peculiarly characteristic of the management. 
So far as economy in the cost of insurance when the 
losses by death are considered, this can only be secured 
by a careful discrimination in selecting the lives to be 
insured. The more rigid and thorough the examina- 
tion, and the more careful the acceptance of risks, the 
less is likely to be the ultimate cost of insurance to those 
admitted." * * * 

At the outset the Endowment Rank was composed of 
two classes, which differed one from the other only in the 
amount of the policy, one being for $1,000, and the other 
for $2,000, and the Knight could take either one, or he 
might take both, provided only that he was not over fifty 
years of age. At the session of the Supreme Lodge in 

*John B. Stumph. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 4O9 

1880, three years after the establishment of the Endow- 
ment Rank, Supreme Chanceller D. B. Woodruff, in his 
report, brought to the notice of that body the fact that 
requests were being made for the establishment of a Third 
Class for members of the Order between the ages of fifty 
and sixty. Brother Woodruff says : ' ' There are a good 
many members who are barred by reason of age, who were 
the component parts of this Order in its earlier days, and 
are still strongly attached to it. They did not embrace 
the Endowment Rank at first for various reasons. Now 
they desire to do so, and suggest a Class for themselves, 
with an assessment for that Class, etc. At their desire, I 
present it for your consideration, and have only this sug- 
gestion to make : That each Class ought to sustain itself, 
and hence the rate of assessment must be fixed to meet 
the expectancy of life, which in such a Class must neces- 
sarily be very high, and ultimately fail for risks to keep it 
up, unless by transfer from all other Classes after reaching 
the age of fifty, and increase the assessments in ratio, 
which would not be wise. I ask that the matter have 
proper reference." 

Acting upon the recommendations of the Supreme 
Chancellor the Third Class was added by the necessary 
legislation at that session. It did not meet with any 
very great favor or success however, for two -years after- 
ward Supreme Chancellor Lindsey reported a membership 
in the Third Class of only 245, while the First Class had 
11,499, an< ^ the Second Class 15,017. Says Brother Lind- 
sey in his report : ' ' The Third Class, created for the accom- 
modation of brethren over fifty years of age, has not been 
availed of to that extent which doubtless was anticipated, 
but as there has been but two deaths in this Class since the 
formation, it has not proven an expensive investment to 
those who became members." 



410 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Experience gradually taught the Order that this En- 
dowment feature had not been established on the proper 
basis, and at the close of the first year of its exist- 
ence the laws regulating it were amended and changed 
in the attempt to remedy the defects in the system. A 
stricter medical examination was provided for, the posi- 
tion of Medical Examiner-in-Chief was created — and al- 
though his duties were not specifically defined, yet at the 
next session after the office was created, his report to the 
Supreme body shows that the office was created none 
too soon, and he seems to have had very decided ideas as 
to what the duties of such an officer should be, for he pro- 
ceeded to work on the principle that 4 "None but lives select- 
ed with the greatest cai'e and deliberation should be admitted 
to membership ." Very safe rule, indeed. Says he, in his 
report, session 1882: " From October 1, 1880, to July 1, 
1882, I have examined 9,287 applications. Of this num- 
ber, 8,848 have been approved, and 439 rejected. Each 
application was subjected to the most rigid scrutiny, the 
labor having been personally performed, and in no case 
delegated to another. * * * * Of these 439 applica- 
tions recommended by local examiners, without a thorough 
and careful examination by the Medical Examiner-in-Chief, 
a large number would have been admitted, and encum- 
bered the Rank with a risk of $889,000. Of this number, 
according to rules of uninsurable risks, there would have 
been losses amounting in the aggregate to more than 
$50,000. It will be seen from the facts above stated how 
important and necessary it has been that in the discharge 
of my duties every care and precaution should be used to 
prevent the assumption of unsound risks. Without this 
great care the Rank would undoubtedly have been called 
upon to pay many thousands of dollars, and an injustice 
done to the assessment paying members." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 41 1 

With the experience of over ten years, and the practical 
benefits that have accrued to the Endowment Rank from 
the office of Medical Examiner-in-Chief, the only wonder 
now is, that a body of intelligent men would have ever 
dared to go into such a venture without such an officer. 

Up to 1882 the assessments were uniform for each class 
— the young man who had just attained his majority, and 
able to enter the Order, and the man of forty-nine, paid the 
same amount of assessments. The injustice of the system, 
and the danger to the Order, had become too apparent to 
be longer ignored or passed over. The attention of the 
Supreme Lodge in 1882 was called to this question in more 
than a single instance, and so the Endowment Rank Com- 
mittee brought the matter squarely before the session for 
its action by their report. 

They said on this question of graded assessments : 
" This subject has been referred to in more than one paper 
referred to your committee, and has received at their 
hands the most careful consideration. They deem the 
establishment of graded assessments a matter of immense 
importance to the Endowment Rank, and recommend the 
inauguration of a Fourth Class (subdivided into divisions 
A and B, whose endowment shall be one thousand dollars 
and two thousand dollars respectively), whose assessments 
shall be graded according to the following table, and that 
the matter be referred to the Committee on Law and Su- 
pervision, with instructions to prepare the laws or amend- 
ments to existing laws necessary to carry this recom- 
mendation into effect." 

This recommendation of the committee was endorsed 
by the Supreme Lodge, and was referred to the Special 
Committee on Endowment Rank, who considered the 
matter carefully until the session of the Supreme Lodge 
of 1884, at New Orleans, La., when they reported an 
entirely new code of laws for the government and man- 



412 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

agement of this Rank. By this new code of laws a 
Fourth Class was provided, to be governed by a graded 
assessment, and providing for transfers from the then 
existing First and Second Classes to the new class. The 
essential feature in which the Fourth Class differs from 
the other classes is found in Sec. 5, Art. V., Constitution 
of the E. R. , as follows : 

Sec 5. The Endowment fund for the payment of benefits 
in the fourth class shall be derived from monthly payments by 
each member, said payments to be for each one thousand dollars 
of endowment, and to be graded according to the age of the 
member at the time of making application, except as provided in 
Section 3 of this Article, and his expectancy of life, the age to be 
taken at the nearest anniversary of his birthday. So much of 
such monthly payments as shall equal the actual cost of the en- 
dowment shall constitute the endowment fund, and the resi- 
due of such monthly payments shall be placed in a reserve fund. 
Said monthly payments shall be based upon the average expect- 
ancy of life of the applicant, and shall continue the same so long 
as his membership continues. 

To this Section was appended a table of rates, rated 
according to age. 

And thus, at last, the Supreme Lodge adopted the 
only sound policy for the management of the Endowment 
Rank, i. e. , a graded assessment, or monthly payment, based 
on the age and expectancy of the insured. Whether we 
have arrived at the proper amount for each age is not so cer- 
tain, but the plan is the correct one, and if the amount 
should have to be increased no Knight should find fault, 
for safety and security is what we need, and this we must 
have, be the amount what it may. This is a fund to pro- 
vide means of support and relief from want when the 
strong arm can no longer be lifted to provide or defend, 
and when the head that planned for loved ones is laid low. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 413 

Gradually, step by step, it has been placed upon a 
better business basis than at first, but we must always 
look at this Rank from a business stand-point, as well as 
from a fraternal view. It now secures to the benefici- 
aries of its members the undelayed and full payment of 
their certificates, whether the amount be $1,000, #2,000 
or $3,000, with the same promptness that is deemed the 
crowning glory of the old line companies. 

The Rank has had provided an "Emergency Fund" 
to meet any epidemic. The Medical Examiner-in-Chief 
stands at the head of his profession, and is bringing all of 
his skill and learning to the protection of the Rank from 
bad or dangerous risks. The local examiners are being 
selected with more care, and those who have proved 
themselves inefficient or careless in their examinations are 
being weeded out, and careful and competent physicians 
and surgeons selected to fill their places. 

The total amount of benefits paid by the Endowment 
Rank has now reached about $4,000,000. The cost of 
collecting, managing, and disbursing this immense fund 
has been less than 5 per cent, additional, and this expense 
includes all of the work of establishing the Rank, cost of 
of printing, stationery, and every other expense, including 
all of the transfers from the First and Second Classes 
to the Fourth Class. The great burden of the expense 
for the Rank has been lifted, and economy and fidelity in 
the management of the Rank is to be the future rule. 



414 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 




ESQTJIRK. 



PAGE. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE UNIFORM RANK. 

THE establishment of the Uniform Rank marks the 
beginning of the era of permanent prosperity for the 
Knights of Pythias. 

In the Uniform Rank we show to the world a complete 
military organization, systematically officered, thoroughly 
drilled, that might in case of need be utilized as a means 
of untold good for the defense of the national govern- 
ment, and with credit to the Order. 

Viewed from a patriotic stand-point, this Rank, wheth- 
er in the United States or the British Dominion, stands 
not only as the representative of a fraternal and benevolent 
organization, but it also proclaims citizenship, loyalty to 
constituted authority — combined with the skill and prow- 
ess necessary to maintain and defend individual and 
national honor and integrity. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 41$ 

The introduction of the Uniform Rank as a distinctive 
and higher rank, founded on a strictly knightly or mili- 
tary basis, was a proclamation to the world of a thorough 
organization for citizenship and brotherhood, where honor 
and purity of life was to be the rule of action. 

The Order of Knights of Pythias had been declared to 
be a semi-mllltary body, and yet it lacked even the half- 
way organization of a military force. It required ten years' 
experience for the Supreme Lodge to learn the lesson that 
in this progressive age and busy land there must be no 
half-way measures in anything if success is hoped for. 
Now that nearly ten years have passed since the Uniform 
Rank was created, men in and out the Order, civilians, and 
military men, are beginning to realize that the Sir Knights 
of this Rank have entered a determined protest against 
the designation of " semi- military " as applied to them, 
and are striving to make it the military body not only of 
the Order, but of this continent, next to the army of the 
United States, after which it is patterned. 

Before entering fully upon the subject of the Uniform 
Rank, it may be well to notice the circumstances attending 
its inception, and the motives that actuated its early 
advocates. 

The term semi-military was one of the primal causes 
that finally terminated in the Uniform Rank. The name 
itself was suggestive of uniforms, and the uniforms, so- 
called, that were suggested were almost without number. 
At the session of the Supreme Lodge in 1871, Supreme 
Representative Berry offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the Representatives to the Supreme Lodge be, and 
they are hereby instructed to use their influence and vote so far as 
may be, to secure the adoption of the following Uniform.* 

*An illuminated descriptive pamphlet, illustrating the Uniform, ac- 
companied the resolution, which was from the Grand Lodge of Illinois. 



4l6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

This resolution was referred to the Committee on Un- 
written Work, who reported as follows : 

"The committee recommend that the same be enter- 
tained and be recommended for use where practicable or 
desirable, subject to the final adoption of the different Grand 
Lodges of the various jurisdictions as controlled by their action 
and legislation, or proper official orders. " 

Although this uniform was adopted at the session of 
187 1, as the uniform of the Order, yet at the session of 1872 
the following was adopted : 

Resolved, That all portions of the Uniform or Outside Regalia, 
as established by the action of this Supreme body at its session held 
in Philadelphia, A. D. 1871, P. P. the 8th, except helmet, oriflamme, 
gorget and cloak, be and is hereby declared in its present shape 
and detail the permanent Uniform or Outside Regalia for the use of 
this Order, and which shall not be changed, mutilated or reduced in 
any sense of substitution for the space of te7i years from the date of 
this present session. 

The head-dress was by this resolution omitted from the 
uniform, but designs were at once submitted and resolu- 
tions were introduced for the adoption of various designs, 
but action upon the matter was deferred from one session 
to another until 1875, when Representative Haines, of Ohio, 
presented a design for a helmet, accompanied with specifi- 
cations prepared and designed by Knight James Pettibone, 
of Cincinnati, Ohio. The design was for a black helmet, 
round top, with a black cone running from tip of back to 
center front, with a plume running from back of cone to 
front, and drooping over front. The plume to be in color, 
red for Knights; blue for Past Chancellors; yellow for 
Grand Lodge officers; red, tipped (on sides and front) 
with white, for Past Grand Chancellor; purple, tipped 
with white (sides and front), for Supreme and Past Su- 
preme officers; Knights and Past Chancellors to wear 
white metal or silver trimmings; Grand Chancellors and 
Past Grand Chancellors to wear yellow metal or gold. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 41? 

The foregoing design was adopted, and the helmet was 
again made a part of the Knight's uniform. 

At the following session, 1876, action was had, which, 
if accepted according to the letter of the "act," took the 
helmet away from the uniform. The following resolution 
was presented and adopted : 

Resolved, That hereafter no member of this Order shall appear 
in any public parade or procession of Knights of Pythias, unless 
clothed in. the appropriate and prescribed Uniform Costume, consist- 
ing of cap, baldric, sword, belt and cuffs, adopted at the Baltimore 
session, 1872, of the Supreme Lodge K. of P. 

Thus it is seen that there was a general desire for 
bringing about a uniform feature in the ranks of the Order. 
There was, however, no definite system adopted whereby 
this could be done. The Supreme Lodge, it is true, de- 
manded that this matter of uniforming should be attended 
to, as shown in the last cited resolution, but there was no 
attempt made in any direction to enforce obedience to this 
mandate of the Supreme Lodge. It is not to be wondered 
at, that the membership did not voluntarily procure the 
uniform prescribed (?) by the Supreme Lodge. The facts 
in the case were, no one could define specifically what 
constituted the uniform. True, the Supreme Lodge said 
"cap, baldric, sword, belt and cuffs " but what was to be 
the material? Was the baldric to be of velvet, plush, silk 
or leather? No one knew, and so the baldric was made 
from all of these materials. The colors of the baldric were 
to be blue, bordered with yellow, but what was to be the 
particular shade of these colors ? In a single lodge would 
be seen almost as many different shades of these colors 
as there were men in the column — from the dark indigo 
blue, to lightest possible shade of that color, and so of the 
yellow, varying from the deepest and most pronounced 
yellow of the Yankee pumpkin, to the lightest cream color. 
The same might be said of the color of the belts, while 
the swords were of all possible patterns and designs. It 



4l8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

was a uniform with absolutely no uniformity. As Su- 
preme Chancellor Woodruff in 1880 very tersely stated, 
"The subject of uniforming was left voluntarily with the 
Order, but if used, they must be the articles adopted, etc. 
The requirements, however, had never been enforced, and 
Uniformed Knights {so-called) could be seen by hundreds 
at every session of the body, in every conceivable style of 
clothing and color of materials ', and not unfrequently border- 
ing on the burlesque, as a linen duster or a suit of mail 
cloth. The uniform having lost its distinctive features 
therefore, and usage adopted other styles, in which thou- 
sands were appearing, to the discredit and even burlesquing 
of those Knights who had conformed to your rules and 
procured uniforms in accordance therewith, led at last to 
the demand for the Uniform Rank." 

Never were words more truthfully spoken than these. 
The whole matter of Knights of Pythias uniform had be- 
come a complete farce, and the Order by this &7z-uniform 
uniform was being brought into derision before the world. 
This diversity of uniform (?) was especially noticable at the 
session of the Supreme Lodge held in the city of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, in 1877. There was a large attendance of 
Knights from different portions of the Supreme Jurisdic- 
tion. Quite a number of uniformed bodies, drill corps 
they were then termed, were there, as neatly attired as it 
was possible to be, in black suits, with baldric, sword and 
belt, cuffs and helmets or caps as near to regulation as 
possible, according to the conception of each organization. 
But there was the inevitable diversity of colors, the differ- 
ent styles, shapes, and material of helmets; and yet, if 
either body had been alone, it would have made a credit- 
able appearance, but brought together into one column, 
as representatives of one organization, the dissimilarity 
became painfully apparent. Many of these drill corps 
had made a special effort to appear well. But there was 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 419 

another class, or, we should more truthfully say, there wete 
other classes, that took part in the public parade, and they 
very strongly resembled Falstaff's soldiers. There were 
swords and belts buckled over long coats and short coats, 
over white coats and black coats, yes, and over linen dust- 
ers. Some had helmets, some had caps, some wore silk 
tiles, and others straw-hats, but they had swords and 
belts. This display of miscalled uniforms on public occa- 
sions of the Order provoked much ridicule from other 
societies, and many of the Knighthood had been brought 
thereby to the firm belief that the time had come for the 
Order to take advanced ground on the matter of uni- 
forms and the uniforming of the Knighthood. Instead 
of following in the wake of other Orders, their desire 
was to put the Knights of Pythias on a basis never before 
reached by any other fraternity. These were the men 
who believed in taking the so-called semt-mlllta.ry organi- 
zation and remodeling it so that it would become a 
thorough military body, at least so far as one branch 
of it was concerned, and that its outward display should 
be consistent and pleasing in its uniformity, and service- 
able if need be. We are speaking now of the things that 
weighed upon the minds of different portions of the 
Knighthood which led up to the formation of the Uniform 
Rank. Another thought came to many of those who had 
served in the armies from 1 861-1865. Many there were 
both North and South who remembered with aching 
hearts the losses sustained in their ranks because of 
ignorance of military knowledge and discipline, not on 
the part of officers alone, but on the part of the men 
in the ranks as well. As a rule, officers strove consci- 
entiously to do their duty towards the service and those 
under their command, and the men were not lacking in 
earnest efforts to perform their duty. But men had not 
yet learned that bravery and daring were not sufficient 



420 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

qualities at all times to win a battle, nor to maintain a 
position against a foe that had no greater amount of these 
soldierly qualities, but had more knowledge of military 
science, and possessing that knowledge could exercise a 
skill that, without exposing themselves to unnecessary loss 
of life, swept everything before it. 

These men saw the native military talent of the Ameri- 
can citizen developed amid the fire, heat and storm of the 
weeks and months and years of war, but it was gained at 
immense cost of blood, and limb, and life, a loss that in 
a very great measure might have been averted had both 
officers and men had some military instruction and drill 
before being put into the field. The men who had wit- 
nessed these things, and had been participants and sufferers 
in the great conflict, never wished to see or know of use- 
less loss of life, however just any other war might be in 
which our country might become involved. Some of these 
men had resolved during the days of the terrible struggle 
that if they could be spared through that war period, and 
again be placed in civil life, they would use . their in- 
fluence and energies toward imparting this information 
and discipline in military matters, that others might be 
spared much of the terrors of the soldier's life through 
which they had passed. When these men came out of the 
army after the close of the war they found an organized 
society, which was, as we have seen, a child of the war 
period ; this Order was published to the world as a semi- 
military body, and this attracted their attention. The life, 
growth and development of the young Order was closely 
watched by many who had not as yet entered within its 
portals. Was this an organization such as the young men 
of the land both North and South could be induced to 
enter if a strictly Military Rank could be engrafted on to 
it as a higher or separate branch, was a question that was 
often asked and much discussed. The members of the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 42 T 

Order at that time encouraged the thought in the minds of 
those who were on the outside. Many were led to believe 
that there was more of military design in the construction 
of the Order, and in the secret or ritualistic work, than the 
facts really warranted. But the genuine American soldier, 
whether he hails from Maine or California, Michigan or 
Louisiana, once he is started for a position, does not cease 
the struggle until he has captured the fort. He may fail 
temporarily, he may have to " change direction," and may 
be compelled to make a wide detour, or he may have to 
settle down to a long siege, but sooner or later he will be 
the victor. The plans for the establishment of a military 
feature in the Order of Knights of Pythias had reached a 
point where the judicious employment of a little military 
strategy seemed advisable. There was much opposition 
to a Uniform Rank at the front, therefore a flank move- 
ment became necessary. A sentiment must be created 
in favor of a higher or distinctive military branch, and this 
work was begun. The Pythian press was appealed to, and 
nobly did it respond. The great object sought for, was to 
make the Order attractive to our young men by a purely 
military feature that would give them a thorough training 
without combining with it the serious difficulties and dis- 
comforts of a soldier's or national guards-man's life; a 
training that would fit a young man to measure up to the 
full standard of a citizen and a man, whether in peace or 
war. For, in truth, how shall a man be a citizen or a sub- 
ject without being able to defend, as well as to enjoy, his 
country and his citizenship? Why should a man wear 
a sword if he knows not how to use it in defense of his 
person, his home, or his native land ? Who shall say that 
these men who thus worked for this military rank of our 
Order did not work with a noble, a patriotic and philan- 
thropic purpose worthy of the Order they represented? 



422 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The verdict, as it is proclaimed to-day by a Nation as the 
jury, says they were right. 

There was yet another class, who realized the fact that 
we must have something that would attract the attention 
of the public and especially of the young men of the land 
to us. The tempest had raged most fearfully about our 
castle. The storm had well-nigh destroyed it. Nor was 
this all. Within our own walls men who had taken the 
obligations of Knighthood had shown that they were 
devoid of honor. Professing lives of purity, they had 
shown themselves to be utterly base. These things could 
not exist without the entire membership becoming ac- 
quainted with the facts, and, as a consequence, large num- 
bers were leaving the Order. The Supreme Lodge had 
become worse than bankrupt. Strong hands and true 
hearts had been at the helm 'tis true. Read, Berry, and 
Davis had done and were doing all that brave men could 
do, but why should they and the men who had stood by 
them fight the battles alone ? Why not add other allies, 
bring in other reinforcements? True, some had thought 
this might be done by the Endowment Rank, but co- 
operative insurance was not as well understood then as 
now, nor were so many persons believers and patrons of 
life insurance as now. Beside this, the life insurance 
feature would not attract the attention of the public to the 
Knights of Pythias. To re-build the Order there must 
be something that would reach the eye and arrest at- 
tention. That a higher branch of the Order, combining a 
strictly military feature, would do this, was a proposition to 
which many gave assent. This proposed Rank must have 
its ritual and special ritualistic ceremonies. It must teach 
additional lessons for our intercourse with the members. 
So the thought of the Rank grew and strengthened in 
the minds of all these different classes, and the desire and 
determination to bring about its formation and adoption 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 423 

by the Supreme Lodge was crystalizing into systematic 
plans for its accomplishment. 

The drill corps, so-called, proved to be one of the 
means through which the end could be attained. For this 
purpose in 1876 and 1877 great activity was manifested in 
the formation of these bodies in different parts of the 
country, more especially in Ohio, Indiana, and Maryland. 
It was the desire to produce a favorable impression upon 
the Supreme Lodge, to the end that that body might take 
action on the subject, that caused so large an attendance of 
these drill corps, or drill associations, at the city of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, during the session of 1877. We knew we 
had some ardent workers in the cause on the floor of the 
Supreme Lodge. Besides this, some of the Grand Juris- 
dictions had taken action on the subject. 

The first step taken in the Supreme Lodge came from 
New Jersey, in the session of 1876, in the presentation of 
" Rules and Regulations for the formation of Uniform 
Divisions of Knights of Pythias," which were referred to 
the Committee on Written Work. This committee did 
not long delay in making their report, and the Supreme 
Lodge was equally prompt in adopting the report, which 
was — 

Your committee fail to find in the laws of this Order any 
constitutional provision for such an organization asa " Uniform 
Division, " and until this Supreme Lodge makes such provision 
in their organic law, any action on the aforesaid document would 
be premature. Your committee therefore recommend that the 
subject matter be left to the action of the several Grand Lodges, 
and that this document be returned to the Representatives from New 
Jersey. 

This New Jersey document formed the first attack, a 
repulse being the result, but reinforcements for the little 
army soon began to arrive, in strong and thoroughly 
organized form. 



424 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Supreme Chancellor Davis, who was ever on the alert 
and active in whatever would tend to promote the welfare 
of the Order, came to our aid in his report at the session 
of 1877: 

Although uniformed divisions of members of the Order are 
not recognized by your laws or legislation, still they exist. No 
act of this body has legalized or prohibited such organizations 
within our Order. I am of the opinion that they are beneficial, 
and tend to create an interest in the prosperity of the Order, and 
should be encouraged and recognized. Also, that there be some 
general rules for their control and systematic organization. 

Whether he had heard that some of the Grand Juris- 
dictions had made a move in the direction of a higher 
Rank, to be known as a Uniform Rank, we cannot say 
certainly, but we infer that he had been advised of the 
action in Ohio, for he says: "I have been requested to 
submit this matter to you at this session for a more defi- 
nite expression in the recognition and control of such or- 
ganizations. " 

The roll of the officers and members of the ninth an- 
nual session, 1877, of the Supreme Lodge had scarcely 
been finished when the first systematic movement for the 
Uniform Rank, as a separate and distinctive branch of the 
Order, was presented in the form of resolutions from the 
Grand Lodge of Ohio. The Ohio resolutions made a plain 
declaration of what the Rank should be, and how it should 
be classed in the Order. The attention of that class of 
Pythians who are even yet disposed to speak sneeringly 
of the Uniform Rank, as simply the ' ' ornamental or dis- 
play branch of the Order" — is most respectfully called to 
the particular wording of that document, and are asked to 
notice the prayer of the petitioners. Carefully note, if 
you will, what was asked for, and the requirements that 
were to be exacted of applicants to said Rank. We shall 
have occasion also still further on to call attention to the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 425 

fact that the special rank asked for, was granted as asked. 
The following are the Ohio resolutions, as presented by- 
Supreme Representative Firestone : 

In accordance with instructions of the Grand Lodge of Ohio 
at its last session, May, 1877, the undersigned Representatives 
beg leave to present the following as the action of the Grand 
Lodge : 

Whereas, There are a large number of Knights who have conformed 
to the rules of the Order, and procured uniforms in accordance there- 
with; now we, the undersigned, members of the Order, do hereby 
petition your honorable body to instruct your Representatives to the 
Supreme Lodge to use their influence in establishing a higher Rank or 
Ranks, wherein no member shall be admitted without having procured 
the uniform of the Order. 

The petition above was referred to the Committee on the 
State of the Order, which committee, after due consideration, 
made the following report, which was adopted by the Grand 
Lodge : 

Your committee, to whom was referred the petition of three hundred 
Knights in good standing, asking this Grand Lodge to instruct the Su- 
preme Representatives to use their influence in establishing a higher 
Rank or Ranks, wherein no member shall be admitted without having 
procured the uniform of our Order — 

Resolved, That the petition be .referred to our Supreme Representa- 
tives, requesting them to use their utmost zeal in procuring the same, and 
encourage the above movement now pending in the Supreme Lodge.* 

The Grand Lodge , of Ohio, in this petition, says not a 
word about an "ornamental or display branch of the 
Order." The members of that body sought by this pe- 
tition to perfect a work that had been agitated from 1 868 
to the hour that this resolution was presented to the Su- 
preme Lodge, and in other and different forms had been 
discussed by the leading members of the Order. This 
meant the establishment of a Rank that would attract to 
the Order the earnest, stalwart, young men of the land. It 
was, if inaugurated, to be a Rank within itself, not the first 

* The chief instigators of the Ohio resolution above were Howard 
Douglass, since Supreme Chancellor, and P. G. C. M. E. Kuhn. 



426 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

step of a novitiate, nor was it to be simply an appendage 
to the then existing Ranks, but was to be attained under 
rules that should be presented by the Supreme Lodge, and 
be peculiar to itself. Before reporting the action of the 
Supreme Lodge on these resolutions, we should retrace 
our steps somewhat, and take up a part of the unwritten 
history of the Order, but none the less history. The 
Supreme Lodge and the Order had been almost from its 
first organization passing through deep waters. Scarcely 
had one storm passed away, before the clouds rose again 
in some other quarter. The Conclaves, the troubles with 
the Grand Lodges of Maryland and Pennsylvania, the de- 
falcation of Barton and the bankruptcy of the Supreme 
Lodge, and all the attendant troubles that followed, were 
enough to appall the strongest hearts and staunchest 
friends of the Order. It can not be a matter of surprise 
that with all the troubles through which the Order had 
passed, and was passing, that the decrease in membership 
for four years from 1873 to 1877, after making all allowance 
for accessions, was over 16,000. Even such men as Su- 
preme Chancellor Davis, and H. C. Berry, his predecessor, 
not only thought it doubtful whether the Supreme Lodge 
would out-ride the storms, but they expressed the gravest 
fears regarding the future. All hearts were anxious over 
the situation. Bear in mind that the Supreme Lodge was 
then only nine years old. It had not been long enough 
before the world to secure for itself, and the Order of 
which it was the head, the full confidence and faith of its 
own members, and most certainly with its financial record 
published to the world there was not much to commend it 
to those who had not attempted to solve its mysteries. 
Then two other societies, older in years and experience, 
and strong in membership, looked upon this new Order 
as an intruder upon grounds to which they felt they had 
the right, and they did not propose to tamely surrender 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 427 

that title, nor submit to the formation of an army from 
the material out of which they expected to recruit their 
own ranks. 

Another subject was pressing itself home to the minds 
and thoughts of the Pythian Knighthood. The two great 
fraternities in this country, the Masons and Odd Fellows, 
had higher branches, or * 'degrees," and there was some- 
thing ever before the young man for which he might strive. 
There was nothing of the kind in the Knights of Pythias. 
The Knighthood saw the young, earnest men of that day 
seeking to solve the mysteries of the first degrees of Ma- 
sonry and Odd Fellowship, and passing through, beyond 
and above them into the Commandery, or the Encampment. 
The higher branches of these two sister societies appeared 
before the public in more pleasing dress, with more display 
than it was possible for the Pythians to make. Nor was 
it the dress alone, but more the fact that these were higher 
degrees. It was ever the desire for the unattained that was 
producing the charm for these other societies. 

And so the feeling grew, strengthened, and developed 
in the minds of our very best Knights, and they began 
to say, "The time has come for a higher Rank." Ex- 
perience had taught those of the Order who were not 
" blind in their own conceit," that the rank needed should 
be a display Rank as well. In which direction should 
they turn their thoughts and direct their attention ? The 
solution of the problem was near at hand. In Maryland, 
Judge George W. Lindsay, since Supreme Chancellor ; in 
Ohio, Captain Henry Heinmiller, since Brigadier-General 
Ohio U. R. K. P.; in Indiana, Captain James R. Carna- 
han, since Major-General, and others here and there in the 
Supreme Jurisdiction, were partially solving the problem, 
in the drill associations, or corps, as they were then termed. 
These officers were enlisting the young men in their im- 
mediate localities, and were reviving the Order, and by 



428 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

their drills and military exhibitions were attracting atten- 
tion to the Order. But these organizations were, strictly 
speaking, not a part of the Order. They lived, if you 
please, only by the sufferance of the Supreme Lodge. 
True, they wore the uniform prescribed by the Supreme 
Lodge, but this, as we have shown, was incomplete in 
detail. The organizations of these drill associations were 
as different and diversified as if they belonged to different 
societies. Here, however, was the nucleus from which 
might come an organization that in time could equal the 
Knights Templars, or the Patriarchs. Why not seize upon 
these bodies, perfect a system for their government, define 
their status with the Supreme Lodge and the Order, and 
make from these the higher Rank ? The officers of these 
bodies were working to that end, and had filled the men 
under their command with the same desires and aims. 
They talked it wherever they went, not to members only, 
but to persons outside the Order, and in their respective 
localities through the drill corps they brought many acces- 
sions. The military feature promised much good to the 
Order, and was in harmony with the desires of the larger 
portion of the membership. 

So when the Ohio resolution was presented in 1877, 
the Order, both in the Supreme Lodge and out of it, 
with some exceptions, was ready to receive and act upon 
it. This brings us to the report of the committee on 
this subject, and we take pleasure in giving their names. 
They say: 

Whereas, The history of the oldest and most successful of the 
leading secret fraternities known to us, appears to warrant the con- 
clusion that the occasional addition of higher bodies leads to increased 
prosperity ; and 

Whereas, There is an increasing number of our Order who feel 
that the speedy addition of such higher body to this Order would be 
of material benefit ; and 

Whereas, The sales of rituals, charters, and other supplies would 
create a new source of revenue to the Supreme Lodge ; therefore, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 429 

Resolved, That the Supreme Chancellor appoint a committee of 
five to prepare a ritual, constitution, etc., for the proper organization 
of such higher body, under control of the Supreme Lodge, into which 
the Rank proposed by Representative Firestone of Ohio be incor- 
porated. S. P. Oyler, 

Chas. D. Lucas, 

STANSBURY J. WlLLEY, 

Jno.Van Valkenburg. 

The above preambles and resolution were adopted by 
the Supreme Lodge, and the following were appointed as 
the Committee on the higher or Uniform Rank: Van 
Valkenburg, of Iowa ; Monell, of Nebraska ; Dann, of 
California ; Willey, of Delaware, and Supreme Prelate 
Lucas, with instructions to report at the next regular ses- 
sion, which was to be held in the city of Indianapolis, 
Indiana, August, 1878. It should be stated in this connec- 
tion that the ritual which was adopted for the Endowment 
Rank was originally written for the Uniform Rank, but was 
altered and amended and adopted for the Endowment 
Rank, at the session of 1877. 

The action of the Supreme Lodge of 1877, upon the 
"higher" or Uniform Rank, had not passed unnoticed by 
the membership of the Order, so that by the time the Su- 
preme Lodge met there was no little interest in the sub- 
ject. The friends of the measure were anxiously await- 
ing results, for they had learned that certain influential 
representatives in the Supreme Lodge were antagonistic to 
the movement, and would leave no measure untried to de- 
feat the movement. At the Indianapolis session, greater 
numbers of the ' ' drill corps " gathered than at any previous 
session. These organizations were intensely in earnest, 
and deeply solicitous for favorable action by the Supreme 
Lodge on the proposed measure. The then Supreme Chan- 
cellor, S. S. Davis, brought the matter to the attention of 
the Supreme Lodge in his report. He said: " I informed 
the chairman of the Special Committee on Uniform Rank 
that a complete report will be expected at this session, as 



43° PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

there seems to be a general desire that it be adopted. I 
earnestly hope the report of the committee on the ritual and 
laws for this Rank will be so well prepared that there will 
be no occasion for controversy, and that the method of 
bringing it into operation will be clearly defined." 

» This was the only reference made by him to the sub- 
ject, and while his approval was not as strongly expressed 
as was hoped for, yet we were willing to put a more favor- 
able construction upon it than the words seemed to imply. 
The friends of the new Rank were, however, confident of 
the services of one member of the Supreme Lodge, Justus 
H. Rathbone. He had been a zealous advocate of the 
Rank, and had rendered valuable aid to the committee in 
their labors. 

On the fourth day of the session, Representative Monell, 
of Nebraska, from the special committee appointed at the 
previous session on Uniform Rank, presented the following 
report, which, with the proposed ritual, general laws and 
constitution accompanying it, were made the special order 
for the next morning at 9 o'clock : 

Your Special Committee, to whom was referred the matter 
of preparing Ritual, Constitution, and General Laws for a Uni- 
form Rank, beg leave to submit the following report : 

Your committee are aware of the possible necessity for some 
trifling alterations, in a few minor details of phraseology, in the 
Ritual herewith submitted, when making the final preparation 
thereof for printing. In order, therefore, that the same may, 
with its General Laws and Constitution, be promulgated with- 
out delay, would report the following : 

Resolved, That there be appointed a Special Committee of five, to 
consist of Justus H. Rathbone, P. S. C. and Founder of the Order, the 
Supreme Chancellor, Supreme Vice Chancellor, and Supreme Keeper of 
Records and Seal, and one of the present committee, whose duty it shall 
be to perfect the accompanying Ritual for the Uniform Rank of the 
Order, in all of its details, and to cause the same to be printed and 
promulgated as soon as practicable ; to cause to be printed and pro- 
mulgated the General Laws and Constitution governing the said Uniform 
Rank, as the same may be adopted by this Supreme Lodge, and to 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 43 1 

have prepared the necessary books, blanks, seals, secret work, and other 
supplies, required by the Laws of this Rank, to be furnished by the 
Supreme Lodge. 

In conclusion, your committee beg leave to acknowledge their 
sense of obligation to Brother Justus H. Rathbone, P. S. C. and 
Founder of the Order, for the valuable assistance he has, at their 
request, rendered to them in the preparation of their report, more 
especially in the matter of the ritual, all of which is his work, 
and for which service they heartily unite in rendering him their 
sincere thanks. 

Thus far the prospect for a speedy and favorable 
solution of the question promised well. On the following 
morning, however, the special order being the report of 
the Committee on the Uniform Rank, it was taken up 
and considered. 

After discussion, it was ordered that the Rank be read, 
and that the Rank and report be laid on the table until the 
next session. 

This action of the Supreme Lodge came like a death 
knell to the friends of the movement outside of the 
Supreme Lodge, and was discussed on the streets and in 
the hotels, where they gathered in little groups. They 
all felt that the postponement was intended to kill the 
movement. The writer will ever remember the gloom 
that settled down over the men who had spent so much 
time and money in drill and preparation for the coming of 
the new Rank, and now they felt that all was lost. We re- 
member one of these drill corps that had hastily packed 
their outfits and had gone to the depot to take the noon 
train for home, when P. S. C. Rathbone appeared on the 
scene, and, after talking with them for a while, persuaded 
them to wait until the next day, promising to try to have 
the matter revived, and some definite action taken. So 
they returned, to await the result of another effort. 

When the Supreme Lodge met for the afternoon 
session of that day, August 30, 1878, Representative Cot- 



432 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ter, of Kentucky, offered the following resolution, which 
was adopted: 

Resolved, That the report of the Committee on the Uniform Rank, 
now on the table, be taken therefrom, and, together with the Ritual, 
be referred back to the same committee, together with the Supreme 
Chancellor, Supreme Vice Chancellor, and Supreme Keeper of 
Records and Seal, to be examined by them, amended if necessary, 
fully perfected, and promulgated to the membership at the earliest 
moment. 

This resolution being adopted, the Supreme Chancellor 
evidently construed it to mean prompt action, for he an- 
nounced that the committee would meet in Baltimore, 
Md. , on September 1 3th, only fourteen days thereafter, to 
complete the work. Upon this announcement being made, 
Supreme Prelate Lucas, Representatives Van Valkenburg 
of Iowa, Willey of Delaware, and Monell of Nebraska, 
tendered their resignations as members of the committee, 
on account of being unable to be present at that time. 
The Supreme Chancellor then appointed Past Supreme 
Chancellor Rathbone, and Representatives Ward of New 
Jersey, Kennedy of Ohio, and Mulcahy of Nevada, to fill 
the vacancies. 

The friends and advocates of the proposed Rank, both 
in and out of the Supreme Lodge were jubilant over the 
work of that afternoon, and all felt confident that the 
welfare of the Rank was safe in the hands of the com- 
mittee. The drill corps returned to their homes with re- 
newed interest in the Order, ready to accept the work of 
the committee when it should be promulgated. Through- 
out the Supreme Jurisdiction it became a topic of general 
interest. The opponents were strong in their opposition, 
and prophesied of dire disasters that would come to the 
Knights of Pythias because of it. The antagonism that 
would be engendered in subordinate lodges between mem- 
bers of the Uniform Rank and those who might not be, 
was pictured in colors of a very sable hue. The men who 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 433 

had favored it were denounced as "cranks," and ridiculed 
in every locality. Many who had voted for the measure 
did so with very grave doubts as to its beneficial effect on 
the Order. The enthusiasm of the friends of the move- 
ment, however, was equal to the occasion, and they lost 
no opportunity to proclaim the great benefits that would 
result therefrom. The history and prosperity of the Rank, 
and the growth of the Order since the inauguration of the 
Uniform Rank, is the strongest answer to the objectors, 
and the harmony and growth of the subordinate lodges, 
where the Uniform Rank is established, is the highest proof 
of the wisdom of the majority in the Supreme Lodge in 
engrafting it upon the Order. The committee went about 
the duty assigned them, and after several meetings submit- 
ted their report, with a Ritual, Constitution and General 
Laws for the Uniform Rank, which fact was promulgated 
by circular of the Supreme Chancellor November i, 1878. 
The work of instituting Divisions began almost immediate- 
ly after the promulgation of the Supreme Chancellor's 
orders. The first Division, Columbus Division, No. 1, of 
Ohio, was instituted at Columbus, November 9, 1878. 
Following close upon it came other Divisions in Ohio, 
Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, Missouri, Michigan, Penn- 
sylvania, New York, Minnesota, and Wyoming, all of 
these Grand Jurisdictions having one or more Di- 
visions instituted before the Pythian Anniversary of Feb- 
ruary 19, 1879. The Rank grew apace, so that on the 
convening of the Supreme Lodge, August 24, 1880, Su- 
preme Chancellor Woodruff reported fifty-four Divisions 
of the Rank instituted. In this connection the friends of 
the Uniform Rank will do well to note carefully the report 
of S. C. Woodruff to the Supreme Lodge on the 'subject 
of the Uniform Rank, and following that, the report of 
the committee on that portion of his report. Attention is 
called to these matters to show that the design of the 



434 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

founders and of the Supreme Lodge was to make of the 
Uniform Rank something more than a mere "display- 
branch of the Order," as some have termed it. 

Supreme Chancellor Woodruff, in that report, said : 

Upon the consideration of the subject of "Uniform Rank" 
by the committee, the first question to settle was the object to be 
sought in establishing a Uniform Rank. It certainly could not be 
for the purpose of introducing a uniform in the Order, because 
such existed already, and no necessity existed therefore for an 
additional Rank of Secret Work for that purpose. It appeared 
further, that it could not be for the sole purpose of giving organ- 
ized Divisions of uniformed members a constitution or general 
law to govern them, for they had the authority under your laws 
to adopt such laws as they chose, and organized Divisions were 
then governed by such laws, hence that could not be the prime 
cause, and if so, certainly a separate Rank of secret work could 
give no more efficacy to the laws than without it. The intro- 
duction of the matter to the Supreme Lodge, session of 1877, 
while throwing some light upon it, was not complete. It came 
from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, in the shape of instructions to 
their Representatives to the Supreme Lodge, ' ' to use their influ- 
ence in establishing a higher Rank or Ranks, wherein no member 
shall be admitted without having procured the uniform of the 
Order." (Journal of S. L., page 1408.) The Committee on the 
State of the Order, to whom it was referred, reported a resolution 
requiring the Supreme Chancellor to appoint a committee of five 
to prepare a Ritual, Constitution, etc , for the pivper organization 
of such higher body, under control of the Supreme Lodge, into 
which the Rank proposed by Representative Firestone, of Ohio, 
be incorporated, and this resolution was adopted. (Journal of S. 
L., page 1442.) Therefore its object seemed to have been to gather 
together in a "higher Rank or Ranks," those members of the 
Order who had procured or would procure the "Uniform 
of the Order." * * * 

The establishing of the Rank by the Supreme Lodge having 
been approved, the first step was to adopt such Rank, and the 
distinguished Founder of the Order submitted one which was 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 435 

adopted, embodying secret work, signification, signs, emblems of 
the Rank, etc. * * * 

The specifications of the uniform adopted by the committee 
is taken from the Digest, adding thereto the Emblem of the Rank, 
which is worn on the cap-front, buttons and shoulder-straps, and 
a slight change in the helmet. The Emblem of the Rank would 
seem to be indispensable as a part of the uniform, because it was 
an emblem of a Higher Rank. Without the Rank no emblem 
would have been required. The right to change any portion of 
the uniform, "to violate a solemn agreement of the Supreme 
Lodge," etc., has been a source of great, discussion with the 
Order, but one upon which the committee agreed fully, as to its 
application to a New Rank, and they did not meddle with the 
uniform so far as the third or Knight's Rank was concerned, or 
the marks of distinction belonging to different grades of Rank in 
Subordinate or Grand Lodges. * * * * They repealed 

nothing, have done away with nothing, "robbed" nobody of 
title, honor or jewel, but they adopted a Higher Rank, with marks 
of distinction, and so utilized the uniform of the Order that any 
Knight of the Third Rank who had ever procured the uniform, 
could, for a trifling change, enter this additional Rank; but linen 
dusters, suits of mail, and citizens' dress, of every shade of color 
and style of cut, are no longer recognized as the * ' Uniform of 
the Order," at least in this rank. The committee, while anxious 
to please everybody if possible, concluded their labors, fully satis- 
fied that some dissatisfaction would arise, but conscious of their 
own integrity, they submitted their work to the Order without 
apology, believing it would be appreciated upon being under- 
stood, and trusting you would endorse their work when called to 
pass upon it. 

The reader will perceive that the Supreme Chancellor 
and the committee to whom the work of the preparation 
of the Rank had been referred understood that it was to be 
a "Higher Rank," and they treated it as such. But in the 
closing sentence above quoted, if there had been any dis- 
pute in that body as to the Uniform Rank being formed 
as a higher branch of the Order, the direct issue was pre- 



436 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

sented for the Supreme Lodge to settle. The Supreme 
body was requested to endorse the work, which meant 
also the approval and adoption of the views of the Su- 
preme Chancellor as defined in his report. 

The committee made the following report, which was 
adoi 



Your Committee on Uniform Rank, to whom was referred the 
following portions of the Supreme Chancellor's report, to wit : 
that on pages 1828 and 1829, under the title of the " Committee 
on Uniform Rank;" that portion on pages 1838, 1839 and 1840, 
under the title of " Uniform Rank;" and that portion on pages 
1841 and 1842, under the title of "Uniform Rank Decisions;" 
have given their best consideration to the matter referred, and 
beg leave to report as follows : 

That the action of the Supreme Chancellor, and his associ- 
ates on the committee, referred to under the title* first above 
recited, was in strict accordance with the legislation of the Supreme 
Lodge at its last session, and we recommend its approval. 

That we recommend the approval of the action of the Su- 
preme Chancellor, as set out under the second above recited title, 
so far as it calls for any endorsement by the Supreme Lodge. 

The work of the committee was conscientiously per- 
formed, yet it left the organization of the Rank incom- 
plete in many respects; still, notwithstanding all of its 
imperfections, it found a complete lodgment in the Order. 
The first view the Supreme Lodge had of the Uniform 
Rank was at the St. Louis session of 1880, when there 
were in attendance some ten or twelve Divisions from 
Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The uniformity of 
the uniforms was wonderfully improved over those seen 
at former sessions, when the Order was represented by 
drill corps without any prescribed style of uniform, yet 
there was not a complete conformity to the standard 

*This refers directly to the Supreme Chancellor's report of the Uni- 
form Rank as a higher rank. — Author. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 437 

established, and the danger ahead that the uniforms would 
not be uniform was plainly apparent. The committee 
had failed to describe the uniforms with sufficient clear- 
ness. It was not in the nature of things that the first 
code of laws should have been perfect in all things. The 
Rank was born, and although many of the Supreme Rep- 
resentatives cared little whether the child lived or died, 
the men into whose hands it fell determined to care for it 
through its infancy, and see that it was brought safely 
through its babyhood. The careful and watchful mem- 
bers of the Rank felt that it was best to abstain from 
pressing upon the Supreme Lodge at this session the 
legislation they considered desirable, fully believing that 
the time could not be far distant when the Supreme 
body would be convinced that it was worthy of its fos- 
tering care. Certain amendments to the laws, however, 
were presented, providing for an increase in the number 
of officers for Districts, for State Departments, staff offi- 
cers, etc. The Supreme Lodge decided, and very wisely 
too, that further action in the direction of organization 
should be postponed. The question of preparing a more 
comprehensive system of drill was introduced, but this 
also was deferred to the next session. In short, there was 
no legislation of any importance for the rank at the ses- 
sion of 1880. This one fact, however, was very noticable, 
that the Uniform Rank had more friends at the close of 
the Supreme Lodge session in 1880 than it had before 
that body convened. 

In this connection it may be said, without being 
accused of fault-finding, that it would, perhaps, have been 
better for the Rank if there could have been some one 
placed in charge of it from the first to look after it and 
direct its interests. While the Supreme Chancellor was 
nominally the head of the Rank, he had to do too much 
work connected with the Order in general to give this 



43^ PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Rank very much careful attention. There was no one, 
therefore, to whom the officers of the Rank could look 
for special guidance or counsel in the work. But of this 
more anon. 

The divisions that were at St. Louis went home more 
thoroughly in earnest than ever before. Many of the offi- 
cers saw great possibilities for the Rank, and felt that the 
experiment would ultimately prove a success. The time 
that intervened before the session of 1882 was devoted to 
work and consultation as to the future action in regard to 
the Rank. The new Supreme Chancellor, Geo.W. Lind- 
say, was its avowed friend. He stood pledged to its 
support, and those who knew him believed that he would 
do all in his power for its advancement during his 
term of office. Nor were they disappointed. The writer 
will ever remember with pleasure a visit to Baltimore to 
consult with S. C. Lindsay in regard to the Uniform Rank, 
and how earnestly and enthusiastically he entered into the 
plans that were suggested, and proposed additional methods 
for carrying on the work and perfecting the organization. 
The cares of his official position since his term as Supreme 
Chancellor have prevented him from taking so active a 
part as he doubtless would desire. In his annual report to 
the Order in 188 1, he says of the Uniform Rank : 

It is perhaps needless for the Supreme Chancellor to urge upon 
the membership of the Order the advantages arising from the 
organization of the Uniform Rank. 

All will acknowledge the fact that a uniformed body of 
Knights, when controlled by the rules and regulations necessary to 
a semi-military organization, possesses the means of attracting the 
attention of the public, and thus increasing the membership of the 
Order at large. 

The various parades which from time to time have been 
made a very important feature during the time occupied by the 
sessions of the Supreme Lodge, in the various cities in which 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 439 

they have been held, have, without the shadow of a doubt, been 
advantageous to those localities, in bringing an increase of mem- 
bership to the Lodges, and creating a favorable impression on the 
public mind ; and while the various drill corps and associations, 
as well as the uniformed lodges, are deserving of all praise, yet 
there is a uniformity and esprit de corps connected with the Uni- 
form Rank, calculated to make it a useful as well as attractive 
branch of the Order. 

The Uniform Rank is daily becoming more popular among 
the membership, and increasing both in the number of Divisions 
and accessions to those already formed. During the past year 
there have been twenty-two new Divisions formed, and the Rank 
has now a total membership of seventy-six Divisions. 

A year later, and after watching the growth of the Rank 
and its influence for and upon the Order, he expresses to 
the Supreme Lodge his unqualified endorsement and com- 
mendation. He said : 

This branch of the Order has, beyond a peradventure, proven 
a success, and its increase during the past two years has fully 
equaled my expectations. 

Its attractiveness draws to it the active membership of the 
Order in a greater degree than the other ranks, and as a means 
of enlisting the attention of the community its value cannot be 
overestimated. 

During my term of office I have granted warrants to 52 
Divisions, and the Rank now numbers 105 Divisions. The Uni- 
form Rank is now rapidly taking the place of the drill association 
and uniformed lodges, and, doubtless, ere long the Supreme 
Lodge will be called upon to legislate in the matter of having 
but one uniform branch of the Order. 

The various parades of the Rank in the several jurisdictions 
have in almost every case been the means of increasing the mem- 
bership of the Lodge, and the members of the Supreme Lodge 
have upon the occasion of its sessions been able to witness the 
displays of the Uniform Rank, and can judge for themselves of 
of its advantages and usefulness to the Order at large. 



440 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

If the members of the Rank had anticipated a large 
representation of the body at Detroit in 1882, they were 
not disappointed. The display was in every way, so far as 
individual Divisions were concerned, a credit to the Rank 
and the Order. To the citizens of Detroit, outside the 
Order, the demonstration made by the Uniform Rank was 
a revelation of the power and strength of the Knights 
of Pythias. It gave emphasis to claims of the Order of 
which they had before known nothing save statements 
which appeared in the public prints. The favorable im- 
pression produced by the Uniform Rank was especially 
noticeable on the members of the older fraternal Orders, 
as evinced by their expressions of pleasant disappointment 
concerning the class of men and the evident military pre- 
cision they saw in the ranks. 

The favorable impression made by the Sir Knights 
reached another class, which was of much greater impor- 
tance to the Rank, to wit, the Supreme Representatives of 
of the Order. This was the objective point, and of vital 
importance to the Rank. The time had come for much 
needed legislation. This branch of the Order had now 
reached such proportions that its membership were justi- 
fied in saying that the trial had proved a success, and 
that the Supreme Lodge would be justified in taking 
steps looking toward its better organization. At the open- 
ing of the session the Supreme Chancellor appointed 
the following Committee on Uniform Rank: Howard 
Douglass, of Ohio ; J. R. Carnahan, of Indiana ; Charles 
M. Lang, of New Hampshire ; J. P. Alexander, of Texas, 
and W. H. Davenport, of Nevada. To this committee 
was entrusted all matters pertaining to the Rank. There 
were many propositions presented' for the reformation of 
the Rank, all of which were given careful consideration by 
the committee. Some outside of the Supreme Lodge may 
have thought the committee were not progressive enough; 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 44 1 

they could not understand as well as the five that com- 
posed it that there were some members of the Supreme 
Lodge who were yet doubtful as to the utility of the Rank, 
and others who were absolutely opposed to it. There was 
but one course to pursue, with any reasonable degree of 
hope for the Rank, and that was a conservative plan. 
This last named plan was the one adopted by the com- 
mittee. They sought first to bring about a consolidation of 
the Rank as then organized, and, at least in the different 
grand jurisdictions, give them a local head. To this end 
a law was secured for the formation of Regiments, or 
Grand Divisions, as they were termed. This movement 
met with some opposition in different quarters, but it was 
carried. It was not as complete an organization as the 
committee desired, but from indications that they could 
see and hear, they were convinced that it was the best 
that could be had at the time, and, therefore, deemed it 
prudent to present only such laws as they believed could 
be passed. They, however, secured the adoption of two 
important recommendations, looking to a complete ref- 
ormation and advancement of the Uniform Rank, viz. : 

Your Committee on Uniform Rank recommend the passage 
of the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the Committee on the Uniform Rank be, and they are 
hereby, authorized to prepare a Code of Tactics for the drill and discip- 
line of divisions of the Uniform Rank, and on the completion thereof to 
submit the same to the Supreme Chancellor, and if approved by him, to 
go into immediate effect. The same shall be printed by the Supreme 
Keeper of Records and Seal, and be sold by him at a price to be fixed by 
the Supreme Chancellor. 

And also the following : 

Your Committee on Uniform Rank, having carefully con- 
sidered the various matters referred to them, would report that 
the limited period of the session will not permit your committee 
to perfect the code of laws for the government of the Uniform 
Rank. 



442 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

We therefore recommend that your Committee be continued 
until the next session of the Supreme Lodge, with power to 
meet at any time, and that they report at the next session such 
alterations and amendments to said laws as they may deem 
expedient. 

The committee made no claim to being prophets, but 
they believed that the future for the Rank was greater 
than most members of the Supreme Lodge could be led 
to believe at that time, and they felt that if these resolu- 
tions or recommendations could be adopted they could 
meet the necessities of the hour during the interim between 
the sessions. Thus power was given for the committee to 
prepare for systematic and thorough reorganization. 

Under the system of organization adopted at the 
session of 1882, Regiments or Grand Divisions were organ- 
ized in the following States in order named : 

Illinois — organized September 20, 1882. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight E. L. Brand. 

Indiana — organized October 2, 1882. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight James R. Carnahan. 

Missouri — organized October 17, 1882. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight P. J. Carmody. 

Ohio — organized October 26, 1882. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight Henry Heinmiller. 

Michigan — organized January 16, 1883. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight John R. Bennett. 

New York — organized March 21, 1883. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight Henry Hoyns. 

Iowa — organized October 25, 1883. A battalion, with 
Sir Knight H. Hilbert as 2d Assistant Grand Comman- 
der or Major. 

Kansas — organized October 14, 1883. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight S. H. Kelsey. 

New Jersey— Grand Commander, Sir Knight A. M. 
Way. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 443 

California — organized January 8, 1884. Grand Com- 
mander, Sir Knight F. B. May. 

These were all of the Grand Divisions that were 
organized prior to the Supreme Lodge session of 1884, 
but it must be borne in mind that many of the Divisions 
composing them were instituted after the session of 1882, 
nor were these the only Divisions that were instituted, for 
in his report to the Supreme Lodge in 1884, the then 
Supreme Chancellor Jno. P. Linton, reports the granting of 
warrants for 130 Divisions, the S. K. R. and S. reports, 
however, 1 26. This, however, was a most excellent record, 
and showed good results from the legislation of 1882. 

The Committee on Uniform Rank kept strict watch 
over all that was being done, and of the growth as well, 
and shaped their action on the tactics and the general laws 
so as to meet the demands of the Rank. The tactics were 
prepared with an eye to the greater and more perfect 
organization. It provided not only for the drill of Di- 
visions and Regiments, but also for Brigades. The general 
laws took the same comprehensive scope, and provided, in 
addition to Regiments, for the formation of Brigades to be 
properly officered in the same manner as like organiza- 
tions in the United States Army. The entire organization 
was to be placed under the command of one officer, with 
the rank and title of Major-General. A new and more 
appropriate uniform was also provided. This, in brief, 
was the work of the committee, and it was adopted by 
the Supreme Lodge without a dissenting vote. The 
writer does not go into full details, for the reason that they 
are fully discussed by Lieutenant Jno. T. Thompson, of 
the U. S. Army, in an article embodied in this work. 

The adoption of the work of the committee was greatly 
facilitated by the careful review of the laws of the Uni- 
form Rank, as they then existed, by the Supreme Chan- 



444 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

cellor Jno. P. Linton, and the code prepared and presented 
met his hearty approval and endorsement. 

Upon the adoption of the code it became the duty of 
the incoming Supreme Chancellor to appoint a Major- 
General of the Uniform Rank, and that appointment fell 
upon the author of this work, and in the further discussion 
of this subject he asks that he may not be accused of 
egotism, for he desires not to write of himself, but of the 
Rank, and to express his most heart-felt thanks to the 
noble band of Pythians to whom this book is dedicated, 
for most certainly without the aid they have rendered, his 
work could not have prospered. 

The condition of the Rank at the close of the session 
of 1884 deserves some consideration, in so far as it refers 
to knowledge of military discipline and duty. As is well 
known to the members of the Rank there was little if any 
unanimity of action in 1884, and but little idea among 
officers or men of the duties incumbent upon them. Up 
to 1884, except where Regiments had been formed, there 
was no understanding or knowledge of the military rules 
or requirements. Even where there were Regiments there 
was no unity in the organization. What was needed was 
that some one should be the head, to plan, to direct, to 
organize. While many of the Divisions were proficient in 
drill, they were separate and independent organizations, 
and to all intents and purposes were no better than a 
body of undisciplined recruits, if brought together in large 
bodies. The work that fell upon the Major-General was 
no light task. He was to be the organizer of the Rank ; he 
must be also a recruiting officer to hold together the body 
then in existence, and create an interest in the Rank that 
would cause it to grow in numbers, in strength, in discip- 
line, in proficiency, in drill, in every way that would result 
in a first-class army. Now the work had really reached 
that stage to which the hopes of the soldier and military 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 445 

element in the Order had desired it to come, where this 
magnificent body of Knights could and should be molded 
into a grand Pythian army, where each man would be so 
trained and disciplined that he would be a "Knight" a 
true American citizen soldier. 

This work was undertaken with a full determination to 
make this undeveloped force a power for good, not only 
to the Order but to the communities in which they lived, 
and to the whole country. Never did a commander take 
into his charge a body of men more willing to be molded 
into one harmonious whole, than the Sir Knights of the 
Supreme Jurisdiction, and never were soldiers more ready 
to perfect themselves in their respective duties. Orders 
were received and obeyed throughout the entire Supreme 
Jurisdiction with such cordial earnestness and manifest 
good will, that although the duties of the Major-General 
were arduous, and at times it was perplexing to know 
just which was the best course to pursue, yet it was a 
pleasure to work with and for such a noble band of work- 
ers. And so from the first entry upon his duties to the 
present time, the Major-General has had the most hearty 
co-operation of the entire organization. The work has 
steadily increased month by month, and grown in im- 
portance as the years have passed, yet the growth in 
discipline and efficiency has kept steady pace with the 
increase in members, so that to-day the Uniform Rank 
Knights of Pythias stands in the fore front of the military 
fraternal bodies. As an organization it has won the ap- 
plause and favor of the officers of the United States Army 
and of the heads of departments, and is fostered and en- 
couraged by the best citizens of the land. The uniform 
of the Rank is now becoming not only a distinctive mark, 
but it is a badge of honor as well. The growth of the 
Rank in numbers and discipline has been indeed most 
remarkable, and the interest instead of abating, grows 



446 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

greater each year. This growth was most strikingly 
shown at the session of the Supreme Lodge of 1886 at 
Toronto, Ont. Over 4,000 Sir Knights were brought 
together for the grand parade on the streets of Toronto, 
yet by the Order for the parade, that large body of 
Knights were allowed only fifteen minutes for the assem- 
bly and formation of the column. When the command 
"Forward, march," was promptly given on the very 
minute set for moving, there was no delinquent Division ; 
every Sir Knight was in his place awaiting the order 
and ready to move. Never was a more brilliant parade 
witnessed on this continent than that of the Uniform 
Rank Knights of Pythias in the city of Toronto, July 13, 
1886. 

Thus far we have treated the subject of the Uniform 
Rank from that side which is presented to the public. 
This has been, is now, and ever will be, the feature that 
will attract attention to the Order universal, for to the 
outside world the Uniform Rank will be the Knights of 
Pythias, not a branch or Rank of the Order, but the Order 
itself. So, in this manner the Order is reaping its share of 
good from the growth and prosperity of the Rank. In 
the report of the Supreme Chancellor at the Supreme 
Lodge session, 1886, he names the following States as the 
Grand Jurisdictions in which the Order had made the 
most progress in growth and strength, to wit : Califor- 
nia, Kansas and Indiana, and since then the reports of 
the various jurisdictions show that Indiana and Ohio had 
the largest increase for the Order in the year ending 
December 31, 1886, and, strange as it may seem to some, 
the States just named also show the greatest gains for the 
Uniform Rank. If these statements be true, as they 
most certainly are, then the charge brought against the 
Rank that it would destroy the Lodge and the interest in 
the Lodge, cannot be founded in fact. The teachings 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 447 

of the Uniform Rank serve to make of its members better 
Lodge members. The writer could cite many instances 
where the Lodge has been saved from surrendering its 
charter by the devotion of the Sir Knights of the Uni- 
form Rank to the principles they had sworn to uphold 
and defend. Never has there been a Sir Knight of the 
Uniform Rank who understood and kept the obligation 
of the Rank that has not been in conseouence a better 
member of his Lodge. 

Again, there is another view of the Rank to be con- 
sidered, i. e. , the ritualistic. We do not hesitate to say that 
the ritualistic work in the armory, including the work of 
conferring the Rank, is the most pleasing and impressive of 
the entire Order. The Knight never understands the signifi- 
cance of the Pythian symbols and emblems until he has 
become a Sir Knight and looks upon them and others that 
have been added to the Order by this Rank, and from the 
ritualistic work learns their true significance. Every word 
that is spoken is full of food for thought, and gives a 
pleasure that comes from duty well done, and life lived 
in purity of purpose, and with no other thought than to 
deal in honor with all men. The whole tendency of its 
ritualistic teaching is of that principle which is for every 
day's living, that nobleness of soul which characterized 
our Pythian prototypes, that would rather suffer death 
than wrong a friend, and that would risk his life in defense 
of the honor of that friend. 

For the every-day affairs of life it has lessons that tell 
of honor, protection, defense, not of the friend alone, but 
that will guard the good name of his loved ones from the 
venom of the slanderous tongue, and will defend the home 
circle from ruthless invasion. There is not a phase of 
social or public life, of the busy world or family hearth- 
stone, that is not reached by the lessons taught within our 
double-triangle, or as we are surrounded by our Knightly 



44$ PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Circle. Its tenets are for the betterment of mankind, its 
aim is to purify and make better, and within its code of 
honor the noblest sons of men have walked uprightly 
before God and man. To the Knights of Pythias it will 
ever be a light by the way. It was introduced not to sow 
discord, but to promote harmony. It came not to weaken 
our regard for a brother Knight, but to make each Knight 
a protector and defender of the honor of our fellow-man, 
remembering always that a man's good name is of greater 
value than all the crowns of kings, or the riches of the 
earth. 

The Sir Knights of the Rank send greeting to the true 
Knighthood, and bid them come, and welcome, to the joys 
and benefits that we receive through this Rank. Come, 
because of the drill and discipline that it gives, fitting one 
for the higher and fuller manhood and citizenship. Come, 
because its teachings lead to a better relationship to the 
Lodge and a higher loyalty and fealty to the Order. 
Come, because it makes us brothers indeed, and in the 
highest and best relationship of life, where one's honor is 
safe in the hands of his brothers, and where the home 
is accounted the most sacred and hallowed spot on earth. 




CHOICE SELECTIONS 



MILITARY VALUE OF THE UNIFORM RANK. 

BY JOHN T. THOMPSON, LIEUT. 2ND. U. S. ARTILLERY. 

THE formation of the Uniform Rank, Knights of 
Pythias, inaugurated a new era in the life of fraternal 
societies. Dependent orders, more or less semi- 
military in their characteristics, had previously existed, but 
its establishment marks the first instance of a purely mili- 
tary adjunct. The ritual of the Rank also inculcates 
noble principles of general application, but are not these 
also the attributes of a true soldier ? 

Several years ago a few representative members of 
the progressive and universal Order of Knights of Pythias 
discovered that the times demanded a new departure in 
the fields of fraternal work, and determined to add to the 
Order a department pre-eminently attractive, useful and 
patriotic. That "the military system is the shortest, 
simplest and most direct method of accomplishing a given 
object " evidently had much weight in the minds of these 
worthy Knights. 

In the following pages my earnest endeavor will be to 
prove that the Uniform Rank is founded upon military 
principles ; to determine its value as such to the Sir 
Knights, the Order and the Nation ; and to portray its 
military future. 

First. The best of all arguments — success — has dem- 
onstrated that the Rank is attractive. "To soldier" is 
the natural propensity in the American youth, as well as 
the habit with the American veteran. In the drill, the 

451 



452 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

business man finds a health-giving exercise and a pleasing 
recreation. Parades have attracted public attention and 
gained honorable mention of the Order in the public press. 
Indeed, so great have been these forces of attraction, that 
three short years have witnessed the transformation of a 
few isolated drill sections into an army corps of over 
twenty thousand swords, stationed all over this broad land 
from northern lake to southern everglade and from tjhe 
Golden Gate to Hell Gate — and beyond. 

Besides, the establishment of similar military branches 
in other prominent orders has been the most sincere flat- 
tery that could have been bestowed upon the originators 
and promoters of the Uniform Rank idea. 

Second. The Rank is useful because beneficial to its 
members. Many of the best military authorities in this 
triumphant democracy can be quoted to the effect that 
military training is a benefit to the individual. 

General W. T. Sherman, U. S. A., has written: 
' ' Military organization is of itself a science, and is admir- 
ably adapted to every branch of business. The grouping 
of men into squads, sections, companies and battalions is 
of the first importance to enable a head to insure attention 
and impart instruction. By this means each one becomes 
individually responsible for his own conduct, gaining per- 
sonal credit where due, and receiving censure when nec- 
essary. The ordinary drill ' sets up ' the boy, and makes 
the man of better figure, better physique, consequently 
prolonging his life and adding to the measure of his influ- 
ence as a citizen. If arms are added, so much the better 
for the physique. Again, the drill of a single company 
contains all the elements of organization and instruction 
needed for a battalion ; and an army of the greatest mag- 
nitude is only a judicious combination of battalions. " 

Major-General J. M. Schofield, U. S. A., late Super- 
intendent of the U. S. Military Academy, in a letter dated 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 453 

August 28, 1878, gave his opinion upon this subject as 
follows: " Success in all the affairs of life has ever 
depended upon system, which is a marked character- 
istic of the result of discipline, and the tendency in all 
the successful affairs of life is toward such a system as 
military discipline inculcates." 

The late General E. D. Townsend, in a letter dated 
"Adjutant- General's Office, Washington, August 9, 
1878," gives his testimony to this effect: "The military 
system is perhaps as near perfection in its simplicity, 
directness and compass as any in the world. It tends to 
develop the physique, to establish ease and grace of car- 
riage and motion, and thus produce a certain amount of 
self-reliance. It gives a vigorous and healthy tone to the 
mental faculties." 

Brevet Major-General M. C. Meigs, for many years 
Quartermaster-General of the Army, has said "Military 
drill and discipline educate both mind and body, and form 
habits of punctuality, of attention, of obedience. They 
give the active exercise necessary for bodily health and 
vigor. * * * Every man is improved in his carriage, 
in his health, in his habits of respect for law and for con- 
stituted authority, by the training of the drill. His fac- 
ulties are improved and brought under better command." 

With this and other evidence of a similar tenor, can 
the value of systematic military training be established. 
How, then, can the usefulness of the Uniform Rank, of 
which the principal object is to impart such training, be 
denied ? 

Third. The Uniform Rank is patriotic in its nature. 
For every member it ' ' increases the measure of his value 
as a citizen." This benefit is particularly pertinent at the 
present moment, when anarchy and its attendant evils 
threaten the life of our republican institutions. 



454 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The late Brevet Major-General W. F. Barry, formerly- 
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac, under date of 
August 1 8, 1879, wrote: "The weak, capricious and 
partial enforcement of many municipal, state and federal 
laws ; the apparent decadence and neglect of parental or 
home discipline, and the pervading absence of unques- 
tioned deference for and obedience to duly constituted 
authority, its legal and necessary enactments and execu- 
tion are pregnant with the greatest dangers to the well- 
being and perpetuity of our form of government. I be- 
lieve that the principles of military discipline, judiciously 
illustrated and taught, * * * * will prove to be a 
most reliable corrective of these evils. It must, of course, 
be understood that such teachings are not to be of the 
school of the martinet ; but while an unreserved obedience 
to law and courteous respect for those who are appointed 
to execute it are insisted upon, the entire subordination of 
the military to the civil law must never be lost sight of." 

Service in a military order commanding obedience to 
all lawful authority, whether divine, political or social, 
and demanding a system of military discipline as far as 
practical, cannot fail to be of patriotic value to the citi- 
zen of a free country. 

The military policy of the republic is founded upon 
the principle that the armies of the United States are her 
citizens — always ready in peace or war. In time of peace 
we find them engaged in the various pursuits of life ; in 
war, we find them transformed, after due organization, 
drill and discipline, into the highest type of the patriotic 
soldier — the American volunteer. 

In the American system, the regular detachment of 
this great army, numbering hardly twenty-five thousand 
men, has faithfully performed its arduous duties for nearly 
a century, winning the respect and confidence of all 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 455 

classes of civilians. It is considered the nucleus for the 
great volunteer army required in war. 

For a reserve the country depends upon the veterans 
of the war, and the national guards of the states. Closely 
behind this force, and equally strong in numbers, comes a 
new factor in the national defense. The hundred thou- 
sand members of the military branches of the four great 
secret fraternities in this country would, in an emergency, 
respond, as citizens, by companies and battalions, ' * to ex- 
ecute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and 
repel invasions. " Of these forces, the Uniform Rank, 
Knights of Pythias, may be selected as the representative 
type. The position assigned warrants the assumption that 
the Uniform Rank is a patriotic order wherever its scarlet 
banner is unfurled. 

To determine the value of the Uniform Rank as a mil- 
itary system, the United States Army, the exponent of 
the best military idea in the Nation, is adopted as the 
standard of comparison. The Rank is organized, drilled, 
uniformed and disciplined, as far as practicable, upon the 
regular army as a model. Its ranks are recruited from 
members of the Order, in good standing, who have at- 
tained the Rank of Knight. 

The Uniform Rank system is based upon the military 
customs and necessities of this country. Its principles, 
however, are applicable to the growth of the Order of 
Knights of Pythias in any free country. 

The relation of the Uniform Rank to the Supreme 
Lodge may be compared to that of the Army to Con- 
gress. The Supreme Lodge, as the immediate represent- 
ative of the entire Order, and as its law-making depart- 
ment, has power to raise a Uniform Rank ; to provide a 
revenue for its support ; to make rules for its regulation 
and government; and to establish a system of drill and 
discipline. The Supreme Chancellor is Commander-in- 



456 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

chief of these Pythian Legions as the President is of the 
National forces. The Supreme Keeper of Records and 
Seal, acting by direction of the Supreme Chancellor, as 
in signing all commissions, assumes the functions of Sec- 
retary of War. These facts make it self-evident that the 
military feature of the Uniform Rank is subordinate to the 
civil power of the Order. The Major-General command- 
ing corresponds to the Lieutenant-General in command 
of the United States Army. The duties of the Adjutant, 
Inspector, Surgeon, and Quartermaster-Generals are simi- 
lar, as far as circumstances admit, to those performed by 
the chiefs of the regular staff departments at Washington. 
The Adjutant-General is, ex officio ■, chief of staff. The 
personal staff of the Major-General commanding consists 
of two aids from each state, selected because of their mili- 
tary bearing and knightly character, who thus become his 
representatives in their jurisdiction. These staff officers 
are not eligible for command except by special assignment. 
All these officers are commissioned by the Supreme Chan- 
cellor, upon the recommendation of the Major-General 
commanding, for a term of four years. 

The unit of organization, corresponding to the com- 
pany in the army, is the division, which exists by virtue of 
a warrant granted by the Supreme Chancellor upon the 
recommendation of the Major-General commanding. It 
consists of at least twenty-seven Sir Knights, regularly 
mustered into the service by an officer appointed for the 
purpose, and must meet, properly uniformed, once a 
month. 

The division is the military family of Sir Knight 
brothers, of which the captain is the military father, and 
the armory their military home. If the discipline or tone 
of these commands be pure, their drill correct, and their 
administration honest, good regiments will certainly result. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 457 

The first and second lieutenants assist the captain in 
the discharge of his duties. A recorder and treasurer are 
added for the civil administration of its affairs. All these 
officers are elective, and hold office for one year, com- 
mencing February 19th. The Sir Knight Captain appoints 
a guard, a sentinel and a standard-bearer — non-commis- 
sioned officers corresponding to the first sergeant, the 
quartermaster-sergeant and the color-sergeant respectively. 

Whenever five divisions are formed in any state or 
territory, they are organized into a battalion, commanded 
by a lieutenant-colonel ; eight to ten divisions into a regi- 
ment, commanded by a colonel. A lieutenant-colonel 
and major assist the colonel as may be required. These 
officers are elected by the divisional officers. The regi- 
mental staff consists of an adjutant (1st lieutenant), who 
conveys the colonel's orders and keeps the official records ; 
the quartermaster (1st lieutenant), who has charge of the 
regimental property, its transportation and all its supplies ; 
a chaplain (captain), who administers to the spiritual wel- 
fare of the Sir Knights on public occasions, and the sur- 
geon (major), who is the medical officer of the command. 
The former two are appointed by the colonel ; the latter 
elected as are the field officers. The staff officers are 
assisted by the non-commissioned staff — the quartermaster 
and commissary sergeants and the sergeant-major. Each 
regimental officer or non-commissioned officer must be a 
member of a division in the regiment. 

Whenever two or more regimental organizations have 
been completed in any grand jurisdiction, the regiments 
are organized into a brigade, commanded by a brigadier- 
general, assisted by the usual staff officers, ranking as col- 
onels, with three aids, as majors. This constitutes one of 
the tactical units of the Pythian army. The commanding 
officer is elected by the regimental officers. 



458 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

As yet no corps organizations for the Rank have 
been formed. The wide country over which this force is 
scattered may, in the future, as in the case of the regular 
army, lead to the division of the country into territorial 
commands, and the assignment of general officers to com- 
mand. Each state or territory might constitute a district ; 
several states a department; and several departments a 
grand department, as for instances, the grand department 
of Canada, the grand department of the Atlantic, the 
grand department of the Mississippi, and the grand de- 
partment of the Pacific, names sufficiently explicit in 
themselves, each commanded by a major-general. In this 
case, the rank of the commanding General of the Uniform 
Rank should be commensurate with his command. 

The general laws and constitution provide that any 
general officer or colonel, who shall have honorably served 
a full term of office, may be retired from active service as 
such officer, and will be entitled to wear the uniform and 
jewel of honor denoting his past service. He may then 
be assigned to special or other active duty by the Supreme 
Lodge, the Supreme Chancellor, the Major General com- 
manding, or by any superior officer commanding in his 
jurisdiction. 

The tactics of the Uniform Rank consist of an ex- 
cellent manual of drill (1883),* prepared under direc- 
tion of the Supreme Lodge, by Major-General James R. 
Carnahan, M. A., late Adjutant- General of the State of 
Indiana, P. G. C. and S. R. of that jurisdiction, and 
William R. Hamilton, M. S., First Lieutenant Fifth U. S. 
Artillery, containing the Schools of the Knight (soldier), 
division (company), battalion and brigade ; sword and 
axe manuals ; display movements ; rules for camps, pa- 

*Revised 1886 by Major-General. Published by the Pettibone M'f'g 
Co., Cincinnati, O. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 459 

rades, and competitive drills ; reception and escort duties ; 
knightly courtesies and burial services. The ceremonies 
of guard mounting, dress parade, review, and inspection, 
are the usual military forms. These tactics are based 
upon the standard American authority upon this subject, 
" Upton's Infantry Tactics for the United States Army," 
having the same unit — a set of fours. The manual has 
stood "the crucial test of experiment." Each division 
drills generally once a week, at which attendance may be 
required by fine or other penalty, provided for in the 
by-laws. 

Brigade camps and regimental drills are frequently 
held. The 30th day of August, Anniversary Day of the 
Uniform Rank, and the 19th of February, Pythian Period, 
are duly celebrated by parades. The patriotic pride and 
public spirit of the Rank is shown by its turning out in 
processions upon the National holidays and occasions of 
local moment. Competent authority is required for a 
division to participate in any public display. Competitive 
drill is encouraged as stimulating military proficiency and 
authorized in the tactics. Inspections of the various 
bodies are regularly made, and reports, on the prescribed 
blanks, forwarded to the proper headquarters, where an 
abstract is made for the information of the general head- 
quarters. 

The uniform, dress and fatigue, of the Rank is pat- 
terned after that of the United States Army. The officers 
and Sir Knights of a division wear dress-coats, blouses 
and trousers of blue-black cloth, with silver buttons. For 
full dress the white helmet with white and red plume is 
worn by the officer ; and the same with a red plume, by 
the Sir Knight ; for undress, the forage cap of the army by 
all. The shoulder-straps, knots, and epaulettes are as 
prescribed in the army, with the exception of the scarlet 
field. The insignia of rank is as usual. The general, field 



4^0 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

and staff officers wear, in dark blue cloth with gold but- 
tons, the dress provided for like rank by the army regula- 
tions, with the exceptions of the ornaments and those 
noted above. The characteristic emblem of the Rank is 
the lily, which is displayed on the head gear, shoulder 
knots and straps, gauntlets, buckles, and scabbards. 

The flag of the Uniform Rank is of scarlet silk with 
silver fringe, bearing the name and number of the division. 
Such presentation banners as may be received, can be dis- 
played upon public occasions. A division also carries 
the national flag of the country where the Rank is organ- 
ized. At the session of the Supreme Lodge at Toronto 
in 1886, the Stars and Stripes of the United States were 
blended in the same parade with the Royal Standard of 
the United Kingdom. 

The regimental flag, of the same color, contains the 
escutcheon of the state or country, also that of the Order, 
and the number of the regiment. The brigade colors are 
blue, with the name of the brigade inscribed thereon. 
Both regimental and brigade color guards bear national 
colors. 

The colors of the Supreme Chancellor and the Major- 
General commanding are white, with appropriate designs 
and designations. 

The officers and Sir Knights of a division are equipped 
with nickel or silver-plated straight swords, having crossed 
handles and chain guards. The officers wear a scarlet 
enameled belt with silver lace ; the Knights, the same belt 
plain. 

A corps of Sir Knights, of commanding appearance 
and dignified deportment, armed with battle axes and 
lances, forms an ornamental feature of every well organ- 
ized division. 

Military discipline, as far as applicable, is enforced at 
all proper times. Military law and the customs of the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 46 1 

service are authorities when relevant. Courts-martial, 
general and regimental, are constituted, proceed and ex- 
ercise jurisdiction like similar courts in the army. The 
punishments are limited to dismissal, suspension, and re- 
duction in rank. Minor cases, requiring discipline, are 
disposed of by the Sir Knight captain, as provided for in 
the by-laws. Sunday picnics and excursions, or violations 
of any of the rules of reputable society on the part of a 
division, are followed by the arrest of its warrant. 

Pythians are cautioned to be knightly and courteous 
under all circumstances. Knights should be pure in con- 
duct and honest in their intercourse with all. A Sir 
Knight soldier should possess the character of a true gen- 
tleman. It is enjoined "that firmness be exercised with 
politeness; that commanding officers secure the respect 
and loyalty of subordinates by kindness and justice ; 
that, while never failing to notice the short-comings of 
others, he should constantly strive, by the power of ex- 
ample, to lead them to the attainment of the ends in view ; 
that juniors always recognize and respect the presence of 
seniors by the first salute, which must be unfailingly re- 
turned by the senior." The salute is declared to be "the 
bond by which the highest in rank shows to the world 
that he is of the same brotherhood as the lowest." "A 
salute, therefore, for the lowest should be considered a 
privilege, not an obligation All privileges must be given 
as all honors, according to rank, the highest first." Cor- 
respondence relating to the military interests of the rank 
is made out in accordance with official forms, passes 
through the regular channels and is acted upon in the 
usual manner. Orders are issued as in the military -serv- 
ice, those from the Adjutant-General's office at the head- 
quarters of the army being the models. Orders and 
circulars from the general headquarters are printed and 



462 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

distributed. Rosters are kept and military duty fairly dis- 
tributed. 

The Major-General commanding makes an annual re- 
port to the Supreme Chancellor on the state of the Rank, 
and with such recommendations as he may deem neces- 
sary. This report usually contains an official register of 
the Uniform Rank organizations and officers. The paper 
partakes of the nature of the report of the Lieutenant- 
General commanding the army to the Secretary of War ; 
and the latter part to the " Annual Army Register," pub- 
lished by order of the Secretary of War in compliance 
with law. Decisions of the Supreme Chancellor and 
Major-General commanding, relating to the Uniform 
Rank when approved by the Supreme Lodge at any 
session, are duly promulgated. 

A code of ' ' General Laws and Constitution for the 
Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias," was adopted April, 
1884, and amended July, 1886, and published by authority 
of the Supreme Lodge. In its nature it corresponds to 
the title, "The Army," in the Revised Statutes of the 
United States, and to the army regulations. 

Upon the foregoing theory as a basis, the Uniform 
Rank has been organized in forty-four of the states and 
territories of the United States, and in Ontario and New 
Brunswick, Dominion of Canada. 

During the present administration, Supreme Chancellor 
Howard Douglass, of Cincinnati, Ohio, a thorough states- 
man, comprehending the theory and practice of the 
science of government, has, as commander-in-chief, be- 
stowed his fostering care upon this department of the 
Order with marked results. Major-General James R. 
Carnahan, commanding, a veteran officer and organizer, 
well-known in the military circles of the country, has de- 
voted his entire attention and splendid abilities to this 
work since his appointment in June, 1884, with credit to 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



463 



himself and honor to the Order. General headquarters 
have been established at Indianapolis, Indiana. The gen- 
eral staff has been organized by the appointment of prom- 
inent Knights who have served in the Volunteers during 
the war, or in the National Guard during peace. An 
efficient corps of aids has been commissioned. 

Thirteen brigades have been organized — one in each 
of the following jurisdictions : — Massachusetts, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michi- 
gan, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and California. 

Regiments only have been organized in the following 
jurisdictions : — Connecticut, New Jersey, Tennessee, Geor- 
gia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota and 
Maine. 

Surely, the Uniform Rank, — a military order, inculca- 
ting purity of life and honesty of conduct, attractive to 
young men, useful to the Order and loyal to the nation — 
gives promise of a brilliant future. If it continues "to 
grow with the growth and strengthen with the strength " 
of the Order of Knights of Pythias, the next few years 
will witness the formation of an army of true soldiers, 
upon whose banners may be faithfully inscribed : ' ' God 
and our country." 




464 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



FAITHFUL, UNTO DEATH. 

BY T. O. WINSLOW. 

NOT idle words, but proved when flame 
In league with Death its victims sought, 
Where sleeping guests dreamed not of ill, 

Or stately walls to ruin brought ; 
When knightly courage dared their wrath, 

A Brother's perilled life to save, 
Arid in that high and holy cause, 

A name to Fame's bright roster gave. 

Where'er the Pythian banner floats, 

O'er Castle Halls throughout the land, 
" First martyr" to his knightly vow 

The name of Hines shall ever stand. 
Yet countless hearts as bravely beat, 

And will not fail at duty's call, 
But rescue brothers in distress, 

Or at the post of honor fall. 

Faithful in danger to their trust, 

E'en unto death, if such the need, 
Are all true Knights, wherever found, 

When peril calls for knightly deed. 
Faithful to loved ones in the home, 

To brothers who the Myrtle bore ; 
In sickness, sorrow, or the hour 

When crossing to the farther shore. 

Faithful to dry the widow's tears. 

The orphan's path to make more bright, 
With cheering words and knightly aid, 

Till shadows vanish by their light. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 

Faithful, when slander dares assail 
A brother true to knightly vow, 

Or when misfortune's heavy hand 
In poverty hath bowed him low. 

Within each guarded Castle Hall 

These are the only lessons taught; 
Save wariness in every sphere, 

Against the world, with evil fraught; 
And how to find a brother true, 

In whatsoever paths we wend, 
By mystic sign or mutual word, 

To be a comrade or a friend. 

Noblest of all the mystic ties 

The Pythian Order stands to-day, 
And with her banners to the breeze, 

Goes proudly on her conquering way ; 
Her Lily guidons float above 

Brave hearts who love their Country's weal. 
And should the hour of danger come, 

They will shrink not from clash of steel. 

Boston, Sept. 25, 1887. 



465 




466 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



ADDRESS 

AT THE DEDICATION OF A CASTLE HALL, BY PAST GRAND 
CHANCELLOR M. L. STEVENS, OF MAINE. 

WE have gathered to-night, my friends, for the ser- 
vice of dedicating this Castle Hall — so beautiful 
and commodious in its arrangement — so elegant 
and tasteful in its fittings, to the uses of an institution 
of wide-spread organization and far-reaching influence. 

You have listened to the simple and appropriate ritual 
service, in which the officers of the Grand Lodge of 
Maine have set apart these rooms to the perpetuation of 
the holy principles of Friendship, Charity and Benevo- 
lence. And now it will not, I trust, seem inappropriate 
or inopportune if I leave for a time the beaten tracks of 
eulogy of the particular Order in whose interest we 
gather, and glance briefly at the train of causes whose re- 
sult is found in the organization of that class of societies 
or associations of which this is one. 

Early in the history of our race, and while the echoes 
of the songs of the birth-morning of creation had scarce 
died away in the buzz of the busy life then coming to fill 
the earth, the harmony and peace and light to which 
mankind held heirship were marred and broken and dark- 
ened by the advent of a spirit and power of falsehood and 
hate. The intercourse between God and man, hitherto 
open and unrestrained save by that reverential awe in 
which the finite and created always bows before the in- 
finite and uncaused, was ended; and the knowledge of 
Him and the perception of His attributes and character, 
which had been man's highest joy, gave place to vague 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 467 

and incomplete apprehension of His being, and wild and 
chaotic imaginings of the principles of His government. 

It was but a step from this, and the differing concep- 
tions which various minds thus darkened would cherish of 
Divinity, to that doctrine of a plurality of Gods, so widely 
held among the ancients, and which found its highest de- 
velopment in the mythologies of Egypt, Persia, Greece 
and Rome. In close sympathy with this increasing ignor- 
ance of the true God, there was developed an ever-grow- 
ing disregard of the social and moral law which He had 
established, and an ever-widening departure from that code 
of fraternal love, of brotherly regard and unselfish care for 
the happiness and well-being of others, which he had 
ordained. In place of love there came hatred and envy 
— in place of harmony and peace were heard the clash of 
opposing interests and the rude shock of personal en- 
counter, or the wild alarum of inter-tribal and inter-na- 
tional war. 

In no other way, perhaps, is the intellectual degrada- 
tion and night, in which the race Was plunged from the 
rearing of Babel to the opening of the Christian Era, more 
forcibly shown than in the fact that even the realm of the 
supernatural, peopled in the imaginations of men with 
its myriads of gods and goddesses, was not exempt in 
their belief from the jealousies and bitternesses and strifes 
of which their own lives had come to be the constant 
theatre and home. So abject and clouded were their 
minds that in their farthest reach after an object worthy of 
homage and worship they were unable to conceive a Deity 
whose life was not harrassed and rent by the same passions 
as consumed their own. Truth was veiled in the mists of 
all-embracing error. Light was hidden in the gloom of 
an all-enshrouding night. 

But yet there were, in that early day, a few sages, 
philosophers, wise men, to whom the light was not alto- 



468 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

gether lost. Just as we may sometimes discern through 
the surface mists of a summer's eve the glimmer and 
twinkle of a single star, they, through the clouds of wide- 
spread superstition, were able to see the great truth that 
there is but one God, Jehovah Almighty. With this, they 
perceived also the doctrine, scarcely less sublime, that all 
mankind are brothers, — that intertwining among all the ave- 
nues of self-interest and laudable ambition, overarching 
and infolding all the struggles for place and position 
among our fellows, there may be, if we will, the inspira- 
tions of a friendship and fraternity as absolute and eternal 
as the God who ordained that they ought to be — that 
there is a better good than the sole seeking of self or the 
devotion of all effort to a rewarded toil. 

But, in that dark hour of the world's life, doctrines 
such as these might not be boldly proclaimed, nor openly 
avowed. Reputation, friendship, perhaps life itself, might 
be periled in an open attempt to disseminate views so 
utterly at variance with the spirit of the times. If cher- 
ished at all, their study must be pursued in the secresy of 
the closet ; if declared at all, they must be spoken in tones 
hushed to the murmur of the softest whisper. 

Kindred spirits, however, ever seek out among the 
world's rubbish their congenial fellows — ever find out their 
mates amidst the rush and turmoil of the world's work. 
As the quicksilver dropped in the dust and sweepings of 
the artisan's floor seeks out and gathers to itself the par- 
ticles of gold scattered and lost in the processes of labor, 
so these, among whom was preserved a better knowledge 
of universal truth, sought out each other, and while in 
outward life submitting to the popular superstitions of the 
day, in the retirement and secrecy of hidden intercourse 
they discussed the great problems of the universe with 
frankness and candor, and in untiring earnestness and zeal 
wrought upon the great questions of individual growth 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 469 

and social weal. In such gatherings as these may be 
found, if we accept the inevitable conclusions of history, 
the germ which a little later developed into the secret 
societies of the ancients. 

Most naturally these sages were desirous of perpetu- 
ating and extending the knowledge and influence of the 
truths they held ; but amidst the prevailing darkness, and 
for reasons already stated, instruction in them could only 
be communicated to disciples selected with the greatest 
circumspection and care, under the most binding obliga- 
tions of secresy and good faith, and in the most impressive 
possible manner. Hence the origin of those ceremonies 
of initiation and instruction which have formed the por- 
tals of every secret society the world has known. So also 
must the mind of the neophyte be approached through 
the broadest possible channels of access, compelling, if 
it might be, all the senses and the personal experiences 
of the candidate to minister to the deepest and most last- 
ing impression. Hence arose that system of symbolic in- 
struction which, in greater or less perfection, adorns the 
frame-work of every such organization. 

How closely the bonds of friendship were cemented 
between such men as these, holding the same immortal 
doctrines and bound together in a common effort, exposed 
to a common danger and sometimes to a common perse- 
cution and trial, can be scarcely conceived. A spirit of 
fraternity and brotherly affection of the strongest and most 
enduring character kindled its flame and lived and burned 
in their hearts and lives. The toils and labors and trials 
of each became the burdens of all ; and the common weal 
or the common suffering became the personal joy or sor- 
row of each. 

We cannot, with the time at our command, delay to 
examine in greater detail the growth and use of these so- 
cieties. Nor may we stay to trace the processes of the 



470 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



training they embodied, or to recount the examples of 
noble spirit, of almost divine endeavor to which their 
votaries were incited. These are living in the world's life 
to-day ; year after year they are aiding to make our race 
better and holier — helping to garland the magnificent 
temple of man's later civilization with its brightest jewels 
and its choicest adornments. 

As has been well said by a recent writer, " Humanity 
never rises in the mass. It struggles onward, a few in the 
van bearing the brunt of the fight, while the great army 
follows after — often a long way after." So, if the view we 
have stated be correct, in the earliest ages of the world 
the wisest and best of men sought in their secret temples 
to penetrate the mysterious gloom which enshrouded, not 
only their own being, but God as well. They toiled in 
labor and in pain, baffled oft, and oft losing their way, but 
advancing, rising, growing always till out of their labor 
has been evolved civilization. Some of the grandest of 
all ideas, those which have moved the race farthest on- 
ward in the march of human progress, were born amidst 
the flash of mystic symbols. These body forth the in- 
finite and the everlasting. 

The mysteries of Isis and Osiris, of Eleusis, of the 
Sabiri, of Odin, of the Society of Pythagoras witnessed 
this effort in its mightiest struggle and its most wonderful 
development. Much there was of uncertainty, of doubt, 
of error indeed mingled with the truths they held ; for let 
it be remembered they toiled only by the lights of Nature 
and of Reason. The glorious light of revelation and in- 
spiration shone not upon them — the matchless incarnation 
of truth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth had not ap- 
peared, and the glad tidings of his Evangel sounded not 
yet to man. 

In this school of truth, of friendship, and of honor, 
were found the valiant Knights, the true and noble friends, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE 47 1 

from which the Order of the Knights of Pythias takes its 
name. The story of Damon and Pythias will never die. 
The rich halo of their immortal deeds shall never cease 
to light mankind toward the lofty enthusiasm of love. 
No nobler instance of self-sacrifice, no more sacred ex- 
ample of true friendship relieves the long, dark story of 
selfishness and distrust the world has been writing with 
its blood. Its record belongs to no age or clime, but to 
humanity and fraternity forever. 

Nor needs it, my brothers, that I dwell upon that story 
to-night. You know it well. Often in mental view have 
you beheld the scene, almost twenty-three centuries ago, 
when Syracuse was in the very pride and zenith of its 
power. Damon yonder in the cold, dark dungeon — con- 
demned to die at sunset — you have gazed in marvel and 
amaze to see the faithful Pythias tear himself from the 
bride he was that day to wed, and offer himself a hostage 
for Damon. You have heard him plead with the cruel 
monarch, 

" As thou art a husband and father, hear me : 

' ' Let Damon go and see his wife and child 

1 ' Before he dies. For four hours respite him. 

* ' Put me in chains — plunge me into his dungeon 

1 ' As pledge for his return. Do this, but this, 

' ' And may the gods themselves build up thy greatness 

" As high — as high as their own heaven." 

You have seen the plea avail and Damon released to 
say a brief farewell to his wife and little one, who, in 
ignorant, happy longing awaited his coming; you have 
gazed out along the plain and across the valley to trace 
the way of the steed which bore him to his home ; you 
have looked in on the meeting of that family ; you have 
heard the anguished cry of that fond wife as the awful 
truth burst upon her ; you have listened to the wail of the 
babe gathered for the last time in its father's bosom ; you 
have seen the bursting agony of that parting; you have 



472 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



felt the horror and dismay of the moment when, discover- 
ing that his slave had slain his horse in seeking to save his 
master's life at the loss of that of his friend, Damon felt 
that Pythias must die for him. You have looked in upon 
that Syracusan dungeon where Pythias' lovely bride 
vainly plead that he would improve the means of escape 
she had provided and fly with her ; and you have seen the 
finger of the dial-plate hasten toward the appointed hour 
and Damon not yet returned ; you have heard the gates 
creak upon their rusty hinges as the hostage is led out to 
execution; you have beheld the Tyrant gloat over the 
hastening sacrifice as he waited the proof of Damon's 
broken faith; you have watched the glow in the west 
grow brighter as the sun hastened to the setting, while 
over in the east the shadows were climbing the walls of 
embattled Ortygia ; and just then, as a headless trunk and 
a trunkless head would in a moment be all earth held of 
this brave soul, you have seen the guard-line broken, and 
breathless, dust-stained Damon fall fainting at the foot of 
the scaffold. 

All these have you beheld in the clear vision of pres- 
ent reality, and your hearts have bounded with a new 
measure of gratitude and pride that these might be your 
exemplars; and you have accepted with an enthusiasm 
that knows no waning the holy work of perpetuating 
such a friendship, and of making universal so unselfish a 
devotion. 

Emulous of so conspicuous an example of friendship 
and heroism, and discerning somewhat at least of the 
spirit which it embodied, a group of friends assembled in 
the city of Washington on the 19th of February, 1864, 
and there laid the foundations of the institution whose 
pride it is to welcome us within these walls to-night.* 

*A brief sketch of the rise and progress of the Order, which was here 
given, is omitted, as a repetition of oft- written history. — M. L. S. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 473 

Citizens, friends, whom age or sex or inclination de- 
tains without our portals, this band of Brothers extend 
to you their welcome to-night in no ordinary greeting. 
The externals, the pageantry of this Order, are vain and 
trumpery show, save as their significance conveys to you 
the purposes of its bond. Born of heaven, instinct with 
truth, laden with universal love, these purposes and mo- 
tives to action come to you in the lives of these, my 
brothers, seeking to help and aid and bless your commu- 
nity. If you shall find them friendly and generous, 
careful and discriminating, brave and noble and true as 
never before, accept it as proof that the symbolic acts and 
experiences of their weekly gatherings have fully wrought 
their mission in their hearts. 

And specially would I have the pure spirits and loving 
hearts of these women, whose presence graces this fes- 
tival to-night, accept the outward symbolry of the Order 
as token of the sublime and lofty effort for woman's weal 
which they portray. Remember, as from week to week 
your loved ones enter the seclusion of these walls, that re- 
gard for woman, care for her weakness, and vindication of 
her honor is the choicest of all her flowers, brightest of 
all the jewels which deck the triumphal garlands or sparkle 
on the diadem of Ancient or Modern Knighthood. 

My Brothers, I have dwelt much upon the scenes of 
the olden time, before the light of Christianity came to 
lighten the world, and have followed the slow growth and 
development of those springs of action which in the Order 
we represent are so grandly shown forth. But meanwhile 
I have felt assured that you do not forget that among the 
sublimest utterances of the great Apostle of that New 
Dispensation, was that in which he bestowed upon the cen- 
tral thought of all our teachings the exalted encomium, 
" Greater love hath no man than this — -that a man lay 
down his life for his friend." 



474 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



In allusions to which you have seen a special sense, I 
have recalled many incidents which have entered into your 
experience as you have learned the lessons of a Page, 
borne the shield of an Esquire, or worn the arms and spurs 
of a Knight, that in them all you might find an inspira- 
tion to devote yourselves in new and larger measure to 
cement the ties of friendship which bind you to practice 
that holy charity which blesses alike "Him that gives and 
him that takes," and to cherish in its fullest and broadest 
beauty that benevolence which sees in every man a 
brother. 

Brothers, I congratulate you that in so elegant and 
beautiful a home you are to practice and inculcate these les- 
sons. May the mystic significance of the trio of letters 
displayed upon our escutcheon be nobly and grandly man- 
ifested in your friendly and loving care for the suffering 
and the afflicted — in your discretion, forbearance and cau- 
tion amid all the difficulties and temptations of life and in 
the undaunted spirit, the magnificent bravery with which 
you trample under foot the obstacles to your progress. 

"The weapons which your hands have found 
Are those which heaven itself has wrought, 

Light, Truth and Love ; your battle ground 
The free broad field of thought. 

"No partial, selfish purpose breaks 

The simple beauty of your plan, 
No lie from throne or altar shakes 

Your steady faith in man. 

" Press on, — and these who may not share 

The toil or glory of the fight 
May ask, at least, in earnest prayer, 

God's blessing on the right." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 475 

AN ACROSTIC. 

FRATERNALLY INSCRIBED TO THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

FRIENDSHIP : The joys to man thou hast given, 

Recording angels up in heaven 

Indite within that famous book, 

Excepting not one pitying look — 

Not even one small, modest deed, 

Done kindly in an hour of need. 

Shorn are thy ways of all deceit ; 

Hypocrisy lies 'neath thy feet — 

In truth, all works within thy laws 

Perpetuate our noble cause. 

CHARITY'S blessings ever pour 
Hourly into the widow's door; 
Artless, she brings a woman's love, 
Redeeming souls to heaven above. 
In every place her works we find — 
Thoughtful the blessings left behind — 
Yea, she is a friend indeed. 

AND now comes one, whose humane creed 
No thought of recompense contains — 
Devoid of selfishness her aims : 

BENEVOLENCE— O modest maid ! 
Ere fortune's frowns from earth shall fade, 
No hand like thine to turn despair, 
Expel our griefs, relieve our care. 
. Void of all seeming and pretense, 
Oft in our woes a sure defense — 
Let earthly blessings from us flee, 
Earth's riches turn to poverty, 
Nearest and best of friends you prove — 
Caring for naught but to remove 
Every ill — so runs thy love. 

— Sam T. Shaw, in Jersey Knight 



476 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



RESPONSE TO WELCOME ADDRESS 

at kokomo, ind., july 3 ? 1 884, by hon. walter s. richie, 
s. r. of ohio. 

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

IN the full acceptance of the bounteous hospitality so 
eloquently extended, a response more elegant than 

words of mine, more fitting than I can hope to give, 
will surely be found. 

From all parts of this grand and growing state, second 
only in great men and presidential possibilities to my own 
beloved Ohio, are gathered the Pythian hosts to make glad 
the hours by your people kindly given to our highest 
pleasure. From now until the dawn discovers the mile- 
stone which reminds us that one hundred and eight years 
ago our Republic was launched in the sea of nations, we 
will make merry. 

At this mile-stone, as members of an Order truly 
American, we take from the forge of time another link 
and weld it to the golden chain which binds us to the 
memories of the past. 

In response to your invitation we are met to extend 
and renew the friendships made sure and lasting in the 
mystic ties wrought at our common altar. 

On the morrow the millions of our fair land will gather 
in hamlet, grove and city to read again from that page in 
our history which foreshadowed the glorious future, which 
is our immediate and successful past. On the morrow the 
peers of America, rich in individual freedom, rich in in- 
telligence, rich in citizenship, the favored of earth and 
blessed of heaven, meet upon a common plane. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 477 

Crowned with the admiration of the nations, garlanded 
with flowers from the garden of the world's highest intelli- 
gence, nowhere from sea to sea will the sun shine on 
braver men or fairer ladies than here in your own pleas- 
ant city of Kokomo. 

As members of our Order, working for the common 
good of our country is our pride. Untrammeled, every 
man a king, every woman a queen, we behold a land 
specially fitted for the development of the Order we so 
much prize. Its phenomenal growth is the enterprise of 
America, and marks a pleasing page in the history of 
intellectual advancement and long-sought liberality. 

Our Order is of the present. It is not rich in the lore 
of centuries, but it is the creation and pride of the best 
minds of to-day. It is not crowned with the veneration 
of age, but it is favored in its young and progressive man- 
hood. Its origin affects not the distant past, but the 
events of to-day, sharing our growth, a part of our lib- 
erality its present success, the full fruition of fond hopes, 
the golden fruit, ere the weight of years has rested on its 
Founder. Its permanence is written in the experience 
of men who have well considered the problem of life. 
Its corner-stone is the friendship of the ideals, and its 
offices are the wants of humanity in every age and clime. 
None so strong, none so high, none so weak and humble 
but may gather strength and wisdom from the fountain of 
truth springing from the rock of eternal friendship, laid 
centuries ago in the cruelty of tyrants in that fair Sicil- 
ian isle. 

The selfishness of wealth, the refinement of classical 
education, the empire of power cannot lift men above the 
ennobling influences sent world-wide from the thousands 
of fraternal altars in this grand union of states. The laws 
of our common nature find no man whose humanity is 
so broad, whose heart is so warmed at friendship's fire 



478 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



that a glow cannot be brought to his cheek, a kindlier 
sparkle to his eye in the lessons from God's silver sea of 
truth, telling " Man's duty to his Fellow." 

,The Order of Knights of Pythias does not urge its first 
consideration for popular favor. In its work of elevating 
mankind, bringing sunshine and gladness to hearts in 
gloom, dispelling the clouds that gather about and at 
times darken the lives of all men, it but asks and claims 
and has a place side to side with other fraternities working 
to the same end. 

Our attainment marks no other ruins, and Pythian 
liberality finds room for every society that has for its aim 
the good name and betterment of its enrolled adherents. 

Within the memory of every Knight our Order had its 
birth. Twenty years ago its doubtful existence began. 

It had no legacy of wealth or power of personal influ- 
ence. Forgotten, unnoticed, and swallowed up in the 
hatred and despoil that filled the hearts of men, the 
coming of peace brought hope to the faithful few; the 
sun of promise shone forth, and with no benison but that 
which, borne on the winds of heaven, ever unfurls to the 
breeze the banner of right, it has swept like a great wave 
across land and sea, and the fealty of Damon and Pythias 
is the sworn friendship of an army of 150,000 of America's 
young and sterling manhood. 

Whatever tends to the successful perpetuity of our Re- 
public is worthy of every encouragement. There are 
many factors in the sum of this, the best of all govern- 
ments. As one of these factors you have welcomed 
this Pythian gathering. 

In all countries there is a tendency to separate and 
divide society into what are termed sets or circles. One 
requires a given amount of wealth, another a prominent 
position in a particular trade or profession, in still another 
an analysis of blood must prove the fitness for recognition 
and social standing. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 479 

In this land of freemen, away from the banqueting halls 
of kings, and strangers to the vices there begotten, in a 
land where titles and crowns are unknown, we are com- 
pelled to admit this tendency to exclusion and mock 
superiority in our midst. No greater danger can come to 
our institutions. No greater foe to this feature of our sys- 
tem of government, and no greater security from its evil 
effects can be found than Orders such as ours. We dis- 
courage exclusiveness. We eliminate caste. We admit 
men upon the broad platform of good morals and right 
living, recognizing man's security is his love of home, 
for "Each man's chimney is his golden mile-stone * 

* * * from which he measures every distance 
through the gateways of the world around him." 

We commend prudence and seek the rewards of in- 
dustry. We encourage every worthy ambition that the 
world may have the best efforts of its highest intelligence. 
Within our Castle Halls we are but members of a great 
and growing Brotherhood, meeting as America's millions 
will meet on the morrow. The sun of toil stands the peer 
of fortune's favored, learning the lesson that with us Man- 
hood is Supreme. We are come from near and far, from 
crowded city and pleasant country homes, away from the 
struggle of life, away from the gathering heat of party 
strife. Within your gates stands this brilliant array, this 
brigade from an army of America's young manhood and 
high intelligence, and in the full measure of your greeting 
we accept your bounteous and open-armed hospitality. 

We sincerely hope to leave behind us as pleasant 
recollections of our presence on your part, as we, return- 
ing to the homes of our loved ones, shall bear with us 
memories of your exceeding courtesy and most cordial 
greeting. 



480 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



PYTHIAN POEM. 

WE read of knightly deeds of yore, 
With swelling hearts and kindling eyes • 
Through glorious pathways red with gore, 

Ere beauty's hand bestowed the prize, 
And every nerve thrills in accord 

With valiant Knights who bore the cross 
So proudly 'gainst the paynim horde, 
And counted life as little loss. 



But though no more those mail-clad forms, 

With visors closed, move sternly on 
In knightly lists, or battle's storms, 

Till life be lost or victory won, 
And gauntlets thrown by heralds gay 

No more precede the deadly strife; 
Yet valiant hearts are found to-day 

As ever fought for maid or wife. 

We see them scorn the murderous fire 

From batteries massed in grim array; 
Defy contagion's breath so dire, 

Where thousands death's behests obey ; 
Man life-boats from a rock-ribbed shore, 

With souls that know not doubt or fear, 
And launch them 'mid the breaker's roar, 

When minute guns at night they hear. 

Within our Castle Halls are taught 

The lessons ancient Knighthood prized : 

Friendship, that counted death as naught, 
Or tortures tyrants' whims devised; 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 48 1 

With Charity for those who failed 

The highest standard to attain ; 
The giving alms, when want assailed, 

Or kindly watch by beds of pain. 

Skill, to avoid all treacherous snares, 

By which the unwary oft are bound ; 
Courage, that deadly danger dares, 

And treads as shadows to the ground, 
With tender love and watchful care 

For faithful wife or children dear, 
With patience every ill to bear, 

Where craven souls would chill with fear. 

Honor, that keeps our shields so bright, 

No slanderous tongue can dim their rays ; 
Faith, that our Brothers, passed from sight, 

Still join our kneeling song of praise ; 
Firm trust, that on the shining shore, 

When Earth's ordeals all are passed, 
Each worthy Knight, his trials o'er, 

Shall find eternal rest at last. 

— Sword and Helmet. 




482 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



OUR CONFLICT AND LEADER. 



A SERMON DELIVERED IN ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLOOMINGTON, 
ILL., BY THE VERY REV. SIR WM. T. WHITMARSH, DEAN OF 
BLOOMINGTON, RECTOR OF HOLY TRINITY, DANVILLE, AND 
BRIGADE CHAPLAIN U. R. K. OF P. OF ILLINOIS, BEFORE 
THE GRAND CHANCELLOR OF ILLINOIS, AND THE BLOOM- 
INGTON LODGES AND DIVISION U. R. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

II. Sam., 22d chap., 33d and 35th verses. — " God is my strength and 
power, * * * He teacheth my hands to war ; so that a bow of 
steel is broken by mine arms." 

Grand Chancellor and Brothers : 

Life is a warfare. In whatever position we may be 
placed, whatever our lot in life may be, from childhood, 
through youth, in manhood, to old age, from the cradle 
to the grave, our life is a scene of unending conflict. 

In our physical frame there is that conflict / The prin- 
ciple of life struggling with the seeds of disease , the wear 
and tear of motion, exertion, toil, the daily waste insepa- 
rable from living; the injuries resulting from want of 
prudence, ignorance, dissipation, self-indulgence, the vio- 
lence of others, accidents and disasters ; these make our 
physical frame the theatre of a conflict, perhaps brief, 
perhaps continued for eighty, ninety or a hundred years, 
but inevitably ending in the victory of death over life. 

In our social relations we find a constant warfare ! Men 
differ in their interests, their views of truth, their sense of 
duty ; and hence, even with pure motives actuating each 
of them, no two men can be long in contact with each 
other without some measure of opposition rising between 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 483 

them, some occasion of conflict, however courteously or 
lovingly it may be waged ; while in the world at large, 
under the influence of the various feelings which sway 
mankind, human existence appears a long campaign in 
which class is arrayed against class, man against man, 
conflict and strife proving the grand characteristic of life. 
Within the breast of man is found the same conflict which 
is seen in the world around him ! His moral nature as really 
as his physical, is the arena of a constant warfare ! There, 
also, are to be found two opposing principles between 
which there can be even no truce; right and wrong, good 
and evil, light and darkness, truth and falseness, spiritual 
life and spiritual death, call them what you may, these 
two principles are ever waging war with each other ; war, 
the aim of which is undisputed rule in the citadel of man's 
heart. 

Of these three conflicts, from neither of which a single 
one of us can escape playing our individual part, the last 
is the all-important warfare ! 

It is infinitely more necessary that spiritual life should 
overcome evil in our hearts, than that the principle of life 
in our physical nature should overcome disease and death, 
for our bodies are but our clothing, our spirits are our 
true selves. So also is it far more needful that the 
spiritual combat within us should issue in victory to the 
truth, the right, the good, than that we should be crowned 
victors in the social conflict, for it is only as we are in- 
fluenced by the truth, the right, the good, that any war- 
fare in which we may engage in the world outside can 
issue in real gain to ourselves or others. 

I speak to you, Sir Knights, to-day, as to men who 
recognize the truth of the words I utter, men who recog- 
nize the fact that life is a long continued campaign, and 
that of all the conflicts in which we are compelled to take 



484 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



a part, that upon the moral battle-field is the one of all- 
surpassing moment. 

I am justified in so regarding you, for so you proclaim 
yourselves by your chosen symbols, the helmet, sword 
and spear, and still more by the military dress which you 
brothers of the Uniform Rank wear ; you have laid aside 
your citizens' dress of daily use, you have put from your 
hands the implements of toil by which you earn your daily 
bread, and you show yourselves to-day in military garb, 
with helmet, plume and sword, and yet you are not num- 
bered, nor desire to be, among the armed forces of the 
nation ; you do not design to draw those swords in grim 
reality, either to defend your own life or to slay a foe ; 
your dress is a symbol, that and nothing more ; nothing 
more, but it is that ; a symbol or a masquerade, and surely 
not a masquerade, for you would not insult the God of 
Heaven by masquerading in His temple, and turning the 
service of prayer and praise into a hideous farce ! No, your 
dress is symbolic ; by it you proclaim that you recognize 
yourselves as warriors, warriors in a fight where no human 
blood is shed because you war not with flesh and blood, 
but with principles, intangible it is true, but more to be 
dreaded than any hostile squadron drawn up in battle 
array. ' ' Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence," your 
motto, you declare war against the mightiest foe of the 
human race, Selfishness ; Selfishness, the leader and cap- 
tain of all the evils enslaving mankind; Selfishness, the 
one great foe of man which God has resolved ultimately 
to destroy, and by destroying lift man up again into His 
own likeness, partaker of the Divine Nature ! 

By declaring war against selfishness, you draw the 
sword against every foe of man ; all sorrow, all pain, all 
misery, rise from sin, our own ill deeds or the ill deeds of 
others ; and every form of sin, every form of injustice, 
every form of ill doing, springs from the prolific root of 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 485 

selfishness ! Utterly uproot selfishness from the breasts 
of all men, wholly banish it and its fruits from the world, 
and there would be neither sin nor sorrow left to desolate 
the lives of men ! 

Pledged to this conflict with selfishness by your vows, 
four times repeated and each time more strongly than 
before, pledged to it in the face of the world by the sym- 
bolic dress you wear, you come to-day into the house of 
God to hear words of counsel from me, your chosen 
Chaplain ; Brothers, then remember that in this fight we 
are not alone ; God is with us to enable us to overcome, 
to give us victory just in proportion as we are earnest in 
the fight ! 

We do not all hold the same religious views ; some of 
us, the natural seed of Abraham, the grandest, oldest 
lineage in the world, worship the Jehovah of Israel with- 
out recognizing Him in His Incarnate Manifestation, Jesus 
of Nazareth ; others of us have varying views of God's 
plans and purposes; to some of us He may seem to be a 
mere abstraction, and not the living, loving Father, Guide 
and Friend, which others of us recognize in him ; but 
amidst all these differences of human views and thoughts, 
the truth remains, God is over us all and with us each, 
knowing us though we may not know Him, loving us be- 
cause "we are His offspring," seeking our highest good 
far more earnestly than we seek it, and in this fight with 
selfishness He is with us as our Leader, Help and Friend, 
through whom we shall learn to conquer in the fight if we 
accept His aid and follow His commands. Every form of 
sin has its opposite virtue. The opposite of selfishness is 
self-sacrificing love, such as Damon and Pythias displayed, 
such as Jonathan showed to David, such, to give the 
brightest example the universe ever witnessed, such as 
Jesus showed to man ! To win victory over selfishness its 
place in our hearts' affections must be filled by love, unsel- 



486 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



fish, self-denying love, and to gain this, to cast out the 
one and to enshrine the other as the ruling principle of 
our lives, is the battle to which we have pledged our- 
selves ! And, standing here to-day as a Priest of God, 
before His sacred altar, the altar of Self-sacrifice Divine, I 
tell you, my Brothers, that God our Father has done all 
that even He could do to secure us victory in this battle ! 
He has done all that He could do to make us want to win 
in the fight with selfishness! He has shown us the beauty 
of unselfish love, not only by His bounties day by day, 
through all ages, showered upon all His creatures, supply- 
ing their needs and pouring gifts from heaven alike upon 
the thankless and the grateful ; but above all in the exhibi- 
tion of His character in the form and actions of an unselfish, 
self-sacrificing man, in the person of His Incarnate Mani- 
festation, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, the Son 
of God ! 

What more could God do to implant hatred of selfish- 
ness in our hearts than exhibit, as He has, the beauties of 
unselfish love, such as only God Himself could show, in 
the person of His Incarnate Son ? This was the mission of 
our Incarnate God before whose altar you bend your knees 
and veil your standards to-day. It was love, pure, un- 
selfish, self-sacrificing love, love undeserved and scorned, 
yet steadfast, indestructible and firm to death that led the 
Incarnate God to Calvary, and to the region of departed 
spirits, that He might win us from selfishness to love like 
unto His own, and cure the evils of the world by raising 
man from his likeness to the devil back to the estate from 
which he had fallen and make him again the image of 
God. In that mission He fell, and in the darkness of the 
sky which hung over Calvary's tragic scene there seemed 
to be typified the triumph of the powers of darkness. But 
in that fall He triumphed ; the temporary victory of His 
enemies only secured their overthrow. Love can only 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 487 

conquer by endurance and submission to undeserved in- 
juries and unjust treatment. By the Cross of Calvary 
Divine Love conquered, and to-day, shining down the 
ages, there beams forth a radiance from that cross stand- 
ing on the Judean hills which has penetrated to every 
land and shines with imperishable lustre upon this cross- 
crowned altar ! The cross of Jesus is the grand example 
cf love, the grandest of all incentives, the most effective 
of all inspirations ! 

So, too, God has done all that it is possible to do to 
enable us to conquer in the fight with selfishness ! He 
sends into our hearts, by the impulses of His Holy Spirit, 
holy resolves, unselfish purposes, loving, self-denying pro- 
jects, in the pursuit and practice of which we grow more 
and more out of our own selfishness into His likeness. 
More than this, He provides means of grace, channels of 
His Spirit's power, by the use of which, when we feel our 
own weakness in the struggle, we may be reinforced by 
His Divine Power breathed within us, "strengthed with 
might by His Spirit in the inner man." And then, from 
time to time, He places us in such relation to our fellows 
that we are forced into action, compelled to choose be- 
tween two different paths, compelled to decide whether 
we will follow the dictates of selfishness, or combat the 
Evil by the practice of self-denial ! 

Oh, brothers, what a glorious destiny awaits us if we 
but yield to the impulses of God's Spirit, fight manfully in 
this warfare against selfishness, and become what God 
would have us, — through obedience, caution and bravery, 
honorable and pure ! Look at our chosen emblem, Sir 
Knights of the Uniform Rank ; that illustrates the truth ; 
there in the silken folds of our regiment's flag it waves 
over our martialed ranks, calling us to rally to the fight ; 
on our shoulders it rests to consecrate our strength to the 
bearing of the burden of the war ; on sword and helmet 

1 



488 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

alike it shines, telling us that both for defense and for at- 
tack we are equipped ; that in the struggle we may bear 
ourselves as men, valiant in the strife. And what is that 
emblem? See, there it stands, in all the eloquence of its 
symbolic force and vigor, on a field of blood, a silver lily ! 
— a lily in all the freshness of its half-opened youth ! a 
lily lovely in its spotless whiteness ! a silver lily with its 
golden stamens! From whence do the lilies spring? 
Surely from the black, dark earth, from the mould which 
soils our hands and marks our garments with its defiling 
stains ! That pure and spotless white, that lily so pure 
that it seems as though the passing bee, laden with its 
sweets, would sully that purity as it brushes past the 
flower in its flight, sprang from the muddy soil ! How came 
the lily, then, so white and pure ? Whose hand painted 
it ? Whose power and might brought forth the marvel ? 
Listen, oh, brothers, listen! — it was the hand of God ; His 
hand, and His alone, fashioned the lovely petals and made 
them glow in pristine beauty, and from the bosom of the 
defiling earth raised up the model and perfection of stain- 
less purity, and that same Hand in you and me can bring 
forth the moral purity that flower symbolizes ; can, from 
the wreck and ruins of a fallen nature, raise afresh in us 
the moral likeness of Himself, producing even in us the 
character of God ! To teach us this, to show us the beau- 
ties of Jehovah's purity in the life and actions of a man, 
Jesus became incarnate, Immanuel, "God with us," the 
God-man Christ. To make us long and desire to be like 
Him, Christ lived the human life in human form. To sat- 
isfy these longings and desires He died upon the cross of 
agony and shame, and gives to dwell within us the Blessed 
Holy Spirit ! There, given to us in the holy waters of 
Baptism, given to us in Holy Confirmation, given to us in 
the sacred Feast of the Holy Eucharist, given to us as we 
read His Word, to know His will, that we may do it, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 489 

given to us in the sweet communion of soul with God in 
prayer, the Holy Spirit dwells within us as our Guide, our 
Leader, and our Help, making our bodies temples of the 
Holy Ghost, and gradually moulding us, as we obey His 
promptings, into the very image of our God, working in 
us a holiness now imperfect and incomplete, but which 
shall in the great hereafter be as perfect as the holiness of 
God ! 

Oh, Brothers, be valiant in this fight, war against 
selfish feelings whenever you find them rise within your 
breast. Use the every-day occurrences of life as so many 
means of overcoming self! In our ranks seek the welfare 
of the Order, not your personal advantage or gain, nor 
even, unduly, the exaltation of your individual Lodge, 
Division, Regiment or Brigade, over others not so closely 
connected with yourselves; " others first, self last, " be 
your motto as a Knight ! In your family be the same, 
whether you be father or son, the elder or the younger, let 
" others first, self last," be still your motto there! In 
your daily business rise to the thought that buying and 
selling are not the end for which man was created ; that 
success in life does not depend on the amount of wealth 
accumulated, but on the character developed within you ; 
and that all else is valuable or worthless only as it proves 
a help or an hindrance to the development in you of the 
Christ-like character, the highest form of manhood ! 

In this great fight with selfishness, and all the other 
sins which spring from this prolific root, remember, Broth- 
ers, that victory or defeat awaits us according to our rela- 
tion to God our Father ! Human strength is insufficient. 
He only is it, who can so fill our hearts with love of the 
true, the pure, the right, as to make us wish to overcome 
the false, the corrupt, the evil ! He only is it who can so 
strengthen us in the conflict as to enable us to withstand 
and overcome the mighty force of the temptations which 



490 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



assail us ! He only is it who, by His Blessed Spirit, can 
so aid us as to ' ' teach our hands to war so that a bow of 
steel can be broken by our arms " ! Seek then, Sir Knights, 
more and more of the indwelling power of the Holy 
Spirit ; ask it by solemn prayer through Jesus, our cruci- 
fied Lord and Master, who by the Holy Spirit rules and 
reigns within the hearts of all His true followers. Seek 
larger and renewed supplies of this Holy Spirit's power by 
frequent attendance in the house of prayer, and constant 
study of the word of God ; above all, by regular participa- 
tion in that sacred Feast of the Holy Eucharist, which 
to-day is spread before your eyes, where Jesus stands by 
His own altar and, all unseen, through human hands feeds 
our souls with the Living Bread of His own Body, and 
refreshes them with the chalice of His Blood, the precious 
wine of the soul, and receiving thus God's gracious gift of 
His Holy Spirit, yield yourselves to His promptings, do 
His will, "resist not the spirit " when He points out some 
duty hard to perform, or calls to some sacrifice painful to 
make, so shall ye be moulded into the moral image of 
Christ and become like Him pure in heart and life, pure as 
God is pure ! To this end remember the teaching of your 
warlike symbols and your military dress; whenever you 
see the battle-axe and spear, whenever you put on that 
uniform, let them remind you that life is a battle scene, a 
warfare in which victory or defeat awaits us each, and that 
in that fight between truth and error, right and wrong, we 
must each wage a good warfare, bravely, dauntlessly and 
perseveringly unto death. God forbid, brethren, that any 
one of us should ever wear that soldier's uniform without 
hearing it say to us as we buckle our swords upon our 
sides, "Endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus 
Christ," "Be faithful unto death," "To him that over- 
cometh will I give to sit with me on my throne even as I 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 49 1 

also overcame and am set down with my Father on His 
throne." 

Be true to the principles of our Order and you will be 
a blessing to the world. Gather into your ranks as fast as 
you may the young and the old of fair fame and pure 
character, and throw around them the influence that shall 
help to keep them pure and to shield them in the hour of 
temptation. Let our beloved Order become in your 
hands what its founder intended it to be, not a religion, 
nor the substitute for religion, but the handmaid of Chris- 
tianity. So shall it be the teacher of Christian principles 
alike to those who listen to the voice of the Church of 
Christ and to those who refuse to hear Her, but who may 
in learning some of Her foundation principles from you, 
turn in time to Her for that fuller teaching and that larger 
help which She alone, God's chosen channel of His richest 
gifts to man, can give. 




492 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



CHIVALRY. 



AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF A CASTLE 
HALL AT BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, 1 884, BY HON. D. 
F. GLIDDEN, P. G. C. AND S. R. , MICHIGAN. 

ON behalf of the Grand Officers of Michigan I thank 
you for your courteous and knightly welcome, and 
let me assure you that we rejoice with you in the 
possession of this beautiful Castle Hall. The feeling of 
exultation and satisfaction with which you look around 
you upon your Pythian home is shared by me and by 
my associates of the Grand Lodge, and I may add by 
every Knight in Michigan. If not so fortunate in our sur- 
roundings at home, yet we know that this, your Castle, is 
ours while we sojourn with you. We know that from this 
hall the strong grasp of friendship reaches out to every 
worthy Knight, to every prudent, attentive Esquire, and 
to every obedient, studious Page. May I, upon this oc- 
casion, entering as you are upon a new, and, I believe, if 
possible, more prosperous era of usefulness, suggest some 
ideas that have occurred to me of the duties, obligations, 
and responsibilities of the Knight of our Order, drawn 
from the chivalric character and the beautiful history of 
the ancient knighthood, the most noble exemplar of which 
was the valiant Knight of Syracuse from whom we are 
named ? 

Every age is the relative counterpart of every other 
age, and the Knight of to-day may learn something of 
profit from the Knight of a thousand years ago. The 
most ancient chivalry is the relative counterpart of modern 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 493 

knighthood. The dawn of knighthood marked an impor- 
tant epoch in the world's history. It was the beginning 
of a general dissemination of the principles of right and 
truth. Prior to the tenth century there seemed to be in 
the world little or no conception of right as separate from 
or independent of might, excepting in the church. All of 
education, all of culture, all conception of right as right, 
all that consideration of the relations of men to each other, 
of man's duty to truth and his fellow-man, which we call 
civilization, seemed to be confined to the apostles of the 
church, and hidden away in its cloisters, and even from 
these came few rays of light to dispel the darkness and 
gloom that was upon the world. Law and order had 
given place to vice and violence ; men were united only to 
rob, plunder and murder. Even the church was not safe 
from the wandering marauder, who invaded its cloisters to 
rob the altar of its adornment ; then anarchy was triumph- 
ant ; but though sun, moon and stars seemed dead, God 
still remembered the world. 

The growth of ideas and principles in the mental and 
moral world is much the same as the multiplication of 
material things. Mind, soul, and matter follow one law. 
As the first seeds of the fruit must be carefully sheltered 
and tenderly nurtured and slowly multiplied to the point 
where they may be safely scattered broadcast to meet the 
sun and rain, and all unfriendly and unfavorable conditions 
of growth, so the growth of moral ideas of right and 
wrong abstractly considered was for centuries confined to 
the church cloister ; and except a man was a recluse he 
gave little time to reflections on higher purposes than 
mere existence. But as the fruit outgrew the garden, and 
these ideas began to be disseminated more widely in the 
world, the truly brave and courageous began to unite and 
bind themselves by oaths to support right against wrong 
and injustice, to defend the weak and defenseless. 



494 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

As a direct result or outgrowth of the church, knight- 
hood or chivalry took to itself much of religious form, and 
ceremonial chivalry was formally recognized as an institu- 
tion in the eleventh century by the council of Clermont. 
Knighthood was, however, then confined to the nobility, 
and that council decreed that every boy of noble birth, 
twelve years old, should take upon himself an oath to de- 
fend to the uttermost the oppressed, widows and orphans. 
An elaborate system of education, or rather training, was 
established to fit the youth for knighthood, and the cere- 
monies of induction into its orders were most solemn and 
impressive. The candidate was thoroughly trained in the 
use of arms, tested in everything that would prove his 
courage and Avorthiness, and before final charging spent a 
prescribed time in fasting, prayer, and meditation in soli- 
tude. The obligation of the knight of chivalry bound him 
to the highest duties man's knowledge of moral law and 
obligation comprehended, and the upholding of these 
duties and obligations was by the strong right arm. That 
obligation bound him to serve God religiously, to fight 
for the faith with all his strength, and to die a thousand 
deaths rather than renounce Christianity ; to serve his sov- 
ereign faithfully, and to fight for him valiantly; to main- 
tain the just cause of the weak, as widows, orphans and 
maidens in a good quarrel ; that would avoid all fraud and 
deceit; that he would safely conduct a lady or maiden, 
serve and protect her, save her from all danger or insult or 
die in the attempt ; that he would faithfully observe his 
word and pledged faith. Remembering that this was a time 
of profound ignorance, that almost all of education was con- 
fined to the monasteries of the church, that the world was 
but just emerging from the darkness that had blotted out 
all knowledge, all recollection of the culture, refinement, 
and glory of ancient Greece and Rome, save as the church 
had perpetuated it. Now, considering all these matters, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 495 

could there have been higher standards of action than 
these of the ancient knighthood ? But the crowning glory 
of knighthood was its devotion to woman. "Love of 
God and the ladies " was enjoined on him. Woman owes 
to chivalry the first great step towards equality. Under 
its influence she first became her husband's equal. Indeed, 
the chivalric devotion to woman in that time, attested not 
alone by song and story, but verified by history, was such 
as to place her on a plane higher than man, as an object 
of adoration. Nor was it vain and empty homage. She 
became as chivalrously true, pure and high in her aims 
and purposes. She scorned riches, and only looked for 
manhood, truth and valor in him who sought her hand 
and heart. At no time in the world's history was individ- 
ual merit more highly regarded than in that chivalric age. 
True, the sword, spear and battle-axe were the argu- 
ments used to overcome wrong, and to rear and sustain a 
high standard of individual moral excellence ; but the men 
of those centuries knew little of logic, save the logic of 
force and might. While men had come to realize in some 
degree that might was not always right, yet right found its 
most efficient advocate in might. The ideas which origi- 
nated in the chivalry of the middle ages were advanced 
and civilizing, and their tendency was to advancement and 
civilization, barbarous and dark as they may seem with 
the light of almost a thousand years upon them. They 
served their purpose, they accomplished their end, they 
broadened the world's ideas of man's duty to his God, his 
country, his neighbor and to himself. Time forbids that 
I should go into an analysis of all the effects of ancient 
chivalry. Like all ideas it was by its enthusiastic devotees 
carried to extremes, and later Cervantes held these ex- 
tremes up to the ridicule of a world that was becoming 
readers •-and thinkers, in the mock chivalry of Don 



49<5 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



Quixote. It is sufficient for us if we profit by the wisdom 
and emulate the good found in ancient chivalry. 

We Knights of this late day, borrowing something of 
name, form and ceremonial from the chivalric Knights of 
those centuries, remember that it is the substance, not the 
form, that makes us truly Knights of Pythias. 

It was not the sword, helmet and habiliments of that 
noble soldier of Syracuse that prompted that little band in 
Washington a score of years ago, led by the brave, large- 
hearted founder of the new Order, to make the noble 
Pythias their patron saint. No; it was the heart that 
could give up life when life was at its best and brightest ; 
that could willingly, nay, even gladly, say farewell to her 
who was dearer than life, dearer than the fondest hope or 
the highest ambition, and ascend the scaffold and give up 
all for friendship. Ah, what a friendship was that ! Such 
friendship, such courage, may well be commemorated in 
song and story. It is worthy a better, a deeper immor- 
taility than song or story can give. It is worthy to be 
immortalized in the hearts, in the lives of men. " Greater 
love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for 
his friends." 

Will any one tell us that we have not chosen well in 
founding a brotherhood upon such an example of this 
great love? What great responsibilities, what solemn 
duties and obligations are upon us, my brothers, having 
chosen so high a standard as our exemplar of the noblest 
chivalric ideas. As the chivalric knighthood of former 
times was the best exponent of the civilization of the 
middle ages, so should we, in our teachings, our conduct, 
our lives, exemplify all that is truest, bravest and best in 
this age of enlightenment and higher ideas. As a Page is 
first taught courtesy and obedience to competent au- 
thority, the true Knight of Pythias should be a more 
courteous gentleman and a better patriot for the teachings 
of our Order. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 497 

Prudence is enjoined in business, in conduct, in speech ; 
care that our families have every blessing in our power to 
provide. We are taught that the true Knight will allow 
nothing to supercede, nothing to equal, his duty to wife, 
children and parents. A chivalric devotion to them, and 
their interests, comforts and well-being should characterize 
him. He should be a better husband, a better father, a bet- 
ter son if he have the instruction given him in our castle hall. 
As the Knight of old was imbued with courage of that 
stern sort, that bravely met all physical danger, and 
bravely endured all physical pain and suffering, we are 
taught that higher moral courage that knows no fear save 
the fear that may forget duty or hesitate to do it. He 
should have the courage of his convictions, dare to 
think, speak and do that which our book of law and his 
own conscience tell him is right, is justice, is truth. He 
should never lose sight of the high standard he has chosen, 
and be known of all men as worthily wearing the name, 
and as bravely living the life of a Pythian Knight. 

You, my brother [to the Prelate], wear on your breast 
the emblem of your office, representing the Holy Bible 
resting on a circle, emblem of eternity, which instructs us 
that the principles of our Order, drawn from the sacred 
volume, are imperishable. These principles it is our duty 
to keep now in view. They are the substance, the living 
force, of Pythian Knighthood. It is said in the ritualistic 
ceremonies just past, that these walls will rot and crumble 
away, but the sacred trust of Friendship, Charity and Be- 
nevolence will remain as true, as sacred, as dear to men as 
they are now, and ever have been. After these walls 
have crumbled, after we have lain down in our last sleep, 
and men have forgotten us, the teachings of our Order 
will remain. Let it be said of us that we have borne 
bravely our part in upholding in our lives all that is 
brightest, all that is best in those teachings. 



49^ PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 

BY R. L. C. WHITE, S. K. OF R. AND S. 

SCARCELY more than a quarter of a century ago, in 
an humble cottage on the shore of Lake Superior, 
there came to a youthful school-teacher the inspira- 
tion which was the germ of the Order of Knights of 
Pythias. Since his early boyhood the romantic history of 
the lives of the young soldier and the senator of Syracuse 
had held for him peculiar fascination. The story of their 
marvelous friendship had, indeed, for more than twenty 
centuries, been the theme of wondering admiration in 
every land where dauntless valor evoked the esteem of 
man and fidelity was reckoned among the virtues ; but 
it was reserved for Justus H. Rathbone to thereon 
found a fraternity, whose far-reaching influences do more 
than fame of brush, or art of dramatist, or pen of poet to 
exemplify and perpetuate the teachings of the friendship 
which held Damon and Pythias to each other — a friend- 
ship which could smile its serene scorn of a tyrant's 
threats, and see without a tremor the baleful glitter of the 
headsman's axe. The ritual prepared in a quiet Michigan 
village, without assistance, and with no previous knowl- 
edge of such work — for its author had then barely reached 
his majority, and had never been a member of any secret 
society — was the foundation whereon has since been 
erected the magnificent superstructure known as the Order 
of Knights of Pythias. Unused for several years, Mr. 
Rathbone made his manuscript serviceable when, after his 
removal to Washington City, he for the first time found it 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 499 

practicable to execute his long cherished plan of founding 
a fraternal society on the story of the friendship of the 
two Syracusans. He "builded better than he knew;" 
for it is scarcely possible that when, on the evening of the 
nineteenth of February, 1864, he organized the first lodge 
of Knights of Pythias, he could have imagined that he 
was founding an Order which, within little more than 
twenty years, would extend its jurisdiction over every 
state and territory of the American Union, and into Can- 
ada and Novia Scotia, Newfoundland, and the remotest 
regions of the British Northwest, the Mexican Republic, 
and the islands of the far Pacific, and number on its roster 
over two hundred thousand names. The growth and 
prosperity of the Order whose anniversary we celebrate 
to-night have, indeed, been marvelous. Ushered into ex- 
istence in the midst of the throes of civil war, when all 
social ties had been disrupted, the time seemed the most 
inauspicious possible for the organization and the perpet- 
uation of a society founded on the principles of fraternity 
and friendship. Bankrupted in its infancy by the defalca- 
tion of a perfidious scoundrel who had been trusted with 
the management of its finances ; its early progress im- 
peded by individual jealousies and internal dissensions ; 
its strength sapped ere it had more than begun to grow, 
by the decay of some of its subordinates and the defiant 
disloyalty of others — its inherent vitality was yet of such 
sort as enabled it to surmount all obstacles, and to move 
onward triumphantly in a career which is unparalleled in 
the history of similar societies. It is to-day surpassed in 
extent of territory and numerical strength by only two 
orders — the Masons and Odd Fellows. A comparison 
of statistics with these fraternities — and a comparison 
made in no invidious spirit, for I have the honor to be a 
member of both, and I hold a warm and loyal love for 
the tenets which they teach — will show at a glance that 
the Order for which I speak to-night has far surpassed both 



500 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



in its ratio of progress. The Masonic fraternity, after an 
existence in America of a century and a half, has about 
half a million members ; the Odd Fellows, in sixty-eight 
years, have attained a membership of nearly 400,000 — 
and it must be remembered that neither originated here, 
but both were venerable with years when transplanted to 
our shores. On the other hand, the Order of the Knights 
of Pythias, only two years past its legal majority, has fully 
half as many members as one of the ancient organizations 
of which I have spoken, and more than half as many as 
the other. There are, indeed, other secret fraternities, 
still younger than ours, some of which approach it nearly 
in numerical strength. Of such societies I may say — and 
I would not derogate from their merits, for, as a member 
of two of them, I have actual knowledge of the good 
which they have accomplished — that they have attained 
their present success, not as fraternal organizations, but as 
business companies, and by virtue of the adventitious aid 
of their endowment or life insurance feature. The Order 
of Knights of Pythias was a vigorous and positive entity 
long before these co-operative societies had been thought 
of, and will continue to be long after all of them, as must 
inevitably be the case, have passed away. 

Let it be clearly understood, however, that to none of 
the orders to which I have . alluded — whether tracing its 
origin from the mystic crypts of Hiram Abif, the halls of 
the Manchester unity, or the business tact of contempo- 
rary Americans — is ours in any sense a rival. We willingly 
recognize in each a coadjutor in the great work of ame- 
liorating the condition' of mankind, striving in generous 
emulation to keep pace, one with another, 

"For the cause that needs assistance, 
For the wrong that lacks resistance, 
For the future in the distance, 
And the good that we can do." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. $01 

In the anomalous position occupied by our Order may 
be found, I have long thought, one of the secrets of its 
astonishing success. It has, it seems to me, attained the 
golden mean between free-masonry and odd-fellowship on 
the one hand — fraternities which are solely ritualistic and 
theoretical, and a thorough and intelligent comprehension 
of whose rites, ceremonies and dogmas is possible only 
after years of patient study, and is therefore practically 
unattainable by the great majority — and the co-operative 
secret societies on the other, of which the fraternal feature 
is merely a minor part, and which are regarded by the 
masses of their members simply as insurance companies. 
Between these two extremes stands, as I have said, the 
Order of the Knights of Pythias, embracing the best feat- 
ures of both. Binding its members together in the closest 
and tenderest bonds of fraternity, it offers to them, in 
addition, a system of life-insurance which, while in no 
sense obligatory but entirely optional, is equal to that of 
any of the co-operative societies. A military feature, re- 
cently added, and also optional, makes the Order especially 
attractive to young men. Eminently practical in its ob- 
jects and thoroughly business-like in its methods, it yet 
possesses a ritual which, for homogeneity of structure and 
elegance of diction, as well as in the value of the profound 
truths that it teaches, and the great moral lessons which it 
inculcates, is not surpassed by that of any fraternity in 
existence. 

Broad and catholic in its scope, no form of religious or 
political creed bars its doors to any applicant ; it only re- 
quires that he who seeks to pass its portals shall avow his 
sense of moral responsibility by expression of belief in 
the existence of a Supreme Being. Each Pythian Knight 
demanding for himself a guarantee of the right to wor- 
ship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, 
and freedom to formulate his faith as seemeth best to him, 



502 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

is always ready to concede this right to his brothers. The 
applicant must also demonstrate his readiness to under- 
take the duties of a Knight by the possession of physical 
health, and disclaim all unworthy motives in asking ad- 
mission. These, and an unstained reputation among his 
fellow-men, he who would be a Knight of Pythias must 
always have. 

The actual origin of our Order, as I have said, is 
definitely known. No mist of antiquity shrouds its in- 
ception ; no moss of ancient tradition fetters the free and 
sturdy branches of our Pythian oak. We cannot claim 
that the founder of our fraternity, coeval with creation, 
sat in solemn silence on the axis of the universe, and 
evolved from his inner consciousness the rudimentary 
principles of a nascent brotherhood, as he watched the 
megatherium gambol in innocent glee on the paleozoic 
green and the primeval icthyosaurus slowly flap his pre- 
historic tail. No tradition tells of any Knight of Pythias 
who, as assistant architect, carried antediluvian mortar in 
a pre-adamite hod, to help to build the Temple of the Sun 
at Heliopolis ; nor is there, in any of our castle halls, a 
secret coffer wherein is piously preserved an original and 
authentic lock of hair from the sacred tail of Aaron's 
golden calf. While this is the case, it is nevertheless true 
that the principles which we inculcate are the same that 
our great prototypes learned and practiced centuries before 
the dawn of the Christian era. Damon and Pythias were 
both members of that mystic brotherhood established by 
Pythagoras, and it may not be uninteresting to trace 
some of the parallelisms between that ancient fraternity 
and the Pythagoreans of to-day. 

We find, first, that there were three steps or degrees 
to be taken by him who would become an adherent of 
Pythagoras ; so, in our Order, there are three grades of 
rank. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 503 

It was a Pythagorean maxim that * ' everything must 
not be told to everybody." We act on this principle, al- 
though my ordinary observation has been to the effect 
that just as soon as a young fellow has taken the first 
rank, and adorned the lapel of his coat with a K. P. pin, 
which he usually does the next morning, he imagines that 
he knows all that there is to know. We generally con- 
vince him of his error before we get through with him ; in 
fact, the more we teach him the less confident he becomes 
of his own knowledge. 

In the statement of Iamblichus, that the candidates for 
the Pythagorean mysteries were compelled to pass through 
a forest containing all manner of wild beasts, we find 
another antetype of our present ceremonies. We have 
reduced the size of our menagerie, it is true ; but we have 
retained the most dangerous wild beast of the entire lot, — 
and there are scores of my auditors who can testify, from 
personal experience, to the relentless ferocity, the untamed 
vindictiveness, and the "general cussedness " of the mod- 
ern Pythian ' ' goat. 

Again, our ancient brothers were required to rise be- 
fore the sun, to engage in their devotions. The modern 
Knight of Pythias being equally devout, but frequently 
finding it inconvenient to rise so early, sometimes stays 
up all night. This will explain to the ladies the ' ■ true 
inwardness" of the excuse which their husbands occasion- 
ally make about having been "detained at the lodge." 

In the ancient mysteries the novitiate was required, 
before taking the first step, to maintain an absolute and 
unbroken silence for five entire days. This will account, 
to the satisfaction of everybody, for the fact that from 
the days of Pythagoras to the present time no woman has 
ever yet succeeded in gaining admission to the Order. 

As a fitting introduction to what I shall have to say 
concerning "The Pythian Trinity, " hear the official decla- 



504 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ration of principles, promulgated by the supreme authority 
of the Order : 

' ' Founded on the purest and sincerest motives, its 
aim is to alleviate the sufferings of a brother, succor the 
unfortunate, zealously watch at the bedside of the sick, 
soothe the dying pillow, perform the last sad rites at the 
grave of a brother, offering consolation to the afflicted, 
and caring for the widow and the orphan. Having these 
principles in view, its members will endeavor to exemplify 
them by practical tests ; and if, by the grace of God, it 
shall successfully carry out this object, they will feel that 
their mission has not been in vain." 

This is the object of our Order. The motives which 
impel us to seek its accomplishment constitute the Trinity 
of which I am here to speak to you to-night — Friendship, 
Charity and Benevolence. 

It was inevitable that Friendship should be the cardi- 
nal principle of an organization founded on the story of 
Damon and Pythias. Indeed, the corner-stone of all 
secret benevolent societies has been the exemplification of 
friendship by the practice of fraternity. The praises of 
this chief of human virtues have been sung and celebrated 
in every land and language. Banish it from the earth, 
and picture if you can the chaos that would come again. 
Peace, affrighted, would flee forever, and war and rapine, 
red-handed and unrestrained, would stalk abroad, with 
every man an Ishmael and all humanity his foe. Term, 
if you please, "an antique fable" the story of the won- 
derful friendship of Damon and Pythias, it does not need 
that we should go outside the annals of our Order for 
illustrious examples of the way in which the lesson of 
Friendship that we teach 

"With unflinching faith was kept, 
When keeping earned a -martyr's crown and glory." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 505 

Not Syracuse the scene, but the fair southern city on the 
historic James ; not centuries ago the time, but the fateful 
Christmas day of 1870, when Samuel Holder Hines, es- 
caping unscathed from the burning Spottswood Hotel, 
fought his way back through the seething flames to seek a 
brother Knight, and perished with the friend whose life he 
vainly strove to save. 

None the less glorious was the death of the heroic 
Peter Woodland, who, amid the surging waters of Hell 
Gate, stood calmly at his post of duty, and by the volun- 
tary sacrifice of his own life, secured the safety of the score 
of subordinates entrusted to his care. 

A few years ago the whole country was thrilled with 
horror by the intelligence of the appalling Braidwood 
disaster. Among the imprisoned miners were four friends, 
who were Knights of Pythias. Rushing in the first alarm 
to gain the shaft, two of them in their confusion ran in 
the wrong direction. Shouting to his remaining compan- 
ion, "save yourself — I'll bring them back," Isaac Pearson 
followed the other two ; and so, dying in the futile effort 
to save his brother Knights, added his name to the heroic 
list of Pythian martyrs. 

Thrice, in the commonwealth from which I come, has 
a fated city been sorely scourged by the yellow death 
which makes the South its prey ; and thrice has the self- 
forgetting and self-sacrificing friendship which our Order 
teaches, nobly stood the terrible test. In 1878 the Grand 
Chancellor of Tennessee was a resident of the devastated 
city. As the chairman of the Pythian committee of relief, 
he was constant, faithful, fearless and untiring in minister- 
ing to the wants of his afflicted brothers. The cessation 
of commercial transactions, at the beginning of the epi- 
demic, relieved him of all business ties, and left him free 
to seek a place of safety, but he felt that the high office to 
which the suffrages of his brother Knights had elevated 



506 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

him imposed an obligation while it conferred an honor; 
and he formed without hesitation the resolution which 
actuated him throughout — a resolution eloquently epito- 
mized in this sentence from one of the last letters he ever 
wrote : ' ' So long as one member of the Order remains in 
Memphis I deem it my duty to stay, and should I fall, I 
will fall at my post of duty. " Within a week after writing 
this sentence — a sentence which might well be inscribed 
in letters of gold on the wall of every Pythian castle hall — 
Henry Shelby Reynolds, Grand Chancellor of Tennessee, 
had fallen at his post of duty. His heroic soul felt how 
truly " 'tis sweet to die for those we love," and so feeling, 
he went to his death. His daily life was a practical ex- 
emplification of the tenets that we teach ; his fittest 
mausoleum is the hearts of his brother Knights, who loved 
him living, and who mourn him dead ; let his epitaph be, 
' ' Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay 
down his life for his friends." 

When the winter of '8 1 was "lingering in the lap of 
spring" an eminent Tennesseean — one who had filled the 
highest station in the gift of our grand jurisdiction, and 
was then an officer of the Supreme Lodge of the World — 
sought in the farther south the health which home denied 
him. The relentless malady which had so long pursued 
him, overtook him ere he reached his journey's end ; and, 
on the shore of the beautiful bay which laves the southern 
border of this commonwealth, he laid him down to die. 
"A stranger in a strange land" the mystic chain which 
bound him, drew brothers to his bedside. For weary 
weeks faces that he had never known and hands that he 
had never clasped surrounded and soothed his couch of 
pain ; and no kindly attention that hearts warm with fra- 
ternal love could conceive was ever wanting. So long as 
the name of William Bryce Thompson is held in tender 
and loving recollection by the Knights of Tennessee, so 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 507 

long will the Pythians of Mobile retain their warm and 
steadfast gratitude. 

All these are facts recorded in our annals — the mere 
recital furnishes the most eloquent commentary on the 
Friendship that we teach. 

In every heart where Friendship finds a domicile 
Charity must dwell — not that surface sentiment which 
tosses a bone to a beggar and lifts expectant eyes for the 
smile of heaven, but Charity of that truer and sincerersort 
which is the synonym of Love. This is the virtue that 
the Knights of Pythias teach, and every Knight should 
practice charity for the follies and the foibles of his fel- 
lows, finding some good wherever good exists ; closing 
the ear to calumny and detraction; holding "speech 
silvern " when praise is possible, and " silence golden " at 
all other times. 

Instinct with Friendship and aglow with Charity, the 
heart must needs express itself in true Benevolence, and 
so the triad of the Pythian virtues finds its complement in 
that sublime sentiment which makes the Knight of Pythias, 
who has learned aright the lesson that it teaches, a ' ' good 
wisher" indeed to all his kind. So vital was the exercise 
of this virtue esteemed by the framers of our system that 
it was made imperative by incorporation into the organic 
law. Every Knight of Pythias is entitled, as a matter of 
constitutional right, to such pecuniary assistance as will 
relieve his necessary wants when sick or disabled, and 
bury him should he die, and no lodge can legally exist 
which does not provide for carrying into effect this ben- 
eficial feature. An Order which, in nine years, has paid 
over four millions of dollars to the widows and orphans of 
its deceased members, and in addition expends half a mill- 
ion annually in caring for its sick, may justly claim Benev- 
olence as one of its cardinal principles. 



508 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

One of the most eloquent of Englishmen has lamented 
that, with the coming of this utilitarian era, ' ' the age of 
chivalry has gone." In one sense this is true. The 
tawny Tiber yet rolls by Rome as it did when 

" Horatius kept the bridge, 
In the brave days of old," — 

but the modern Horatius is a garlic-eating Italian, who 
"keeps the bridge " in quite another way, by taking toll 
of travelers. The lance of Richard of the Lion Heart 
has changed into a yard-stick, and the Saladin of to day is 
a whining varlet who begs for " backsheesh." The Maid 
of Orleans has become a Paris flower-girl, who traffics 
in nosegays sweeter than her reputation, and the suc- 
cessor of the Black Prince figures in a divorce court 
as the correspondent in a shameful suit for damages. 
The minnesinger has turned into a traveling tuner of 
pianos ; the troubadour has degenerated into a dirty, dis- 
reputable and altogether unromantic "tramp, "and his 
ribbon-decked guitar has given place to a second-hand 
fiddle and a scandalous yellow dog. Don Quixote and his 
trusty 'squire are but figments of the fancy — and all the 
windmills have gone to congress. The days of chivalry, 
when the knight-errant went roaming in an irresponsible 
and happy-go-lucky fashion about the country, astride of a 
stolen horse, with an inverted skillet studded with ten- 
penny nails on his head, an exaggerated washpan on his 
left arm, and a subsection of stove-pipe on each leg, sing- 
ing ditties at unearthly hours under the windows of res- 
pectable citizens, making love to other people's wives, 
sticking his sword into folks on the slightest provocation, 
making a nuisance of himself generally — these "days of 
chivalry" indeed are gone. Gone, and in their stead has 
come the truer and better chivalry of to-day ; a chivalry 
which is everywhere displayed. Wherever man obeys the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 5O9 

promptings of humanity, whether he overcomes dangers 
or himself; whether he conquers the instinct of- fear or 
sordid selfishness ; whether he contends in armed fray, or 
silently endures and watches ; wherever human sympathy 
gushes forth in deeds which assuage distress and mitigate 
the pangs of pain ;< — everywhere it is the same spirit of 
genuine chivalry and moral knighthood. The physician 
who, unknown perhaps beyond the narrow circle which 
his self-forgetting service has blessed and brightened, 
braves the unknown terrors of the pestilence to succor his 
fellow-man ; the engineer who, uncouth it may be and 
illiterate, holds his heroic hand steadily on the throttle 
valve and calmly goes to certain doom in the chance of 
saving the lives committed to his care ; the youth who, in 
manhood's prime, closes his heart to the love that might 
crown and beautify his future and shuts ambition from his 
soul, that he might devote his life to the care of a widowed 
mother ; the boy who stops to help a poor old woman 
across the crowded street; the man who, honoring all 
womankind, resents with quick and honest indignation the 
covert sneer that might assassinate a woman's reputation 
— these, and men like these, are they who, in this modern 
time do truly 

' ' Keep the lamp of chivalry 
Alight in hearts of gold." 

Using the forms and phrases of ancient knighthood, 
the Pythian Trinity exemplifies the truer knighthood of 
to-day. The emblematic colors which the Knight of 
Pythias gains the right to wear are but the visible symbols 
of the principles that should dominate his life. Friend- 
ship, faithful and unchanging, finds its type in heaven's 
enduring azure ; Charity its emblem in the golden glow 
which warms the soul wherein it dwells ; while the crim- 
son current which has its fountain in the knightly heart. 



5IO PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

gives fit token to Benevolence. The neophyte who kneels 
before the altar where rests our book of law takes vows 
upon himself which, rightly kept, make him forever from 
that hour the friend of virtue and the foe of vice. When- 
ever in his power, the faithful knight ' ' guides the steps of 
those who trust in him to goodness and to truth. Casting 
out every grudge from his heart, he bears in his mind 
that only stainless garments befit a Knight of Pythias. 
Clearing away from his breast the storms and darkness of 
wrath and tumult, he strives to let the gleam of the calm 
blue heaven of fraternal love shine soft and pure into his 
soul." Thus equipped, his heart aglow with Friendship, 
Charity and Benevolence, the new-made Knight emerges 
from our castle hall, to be from that time forth a loyal 
champion of the cause of right. 

"No visored helmet gleams upon his brow, 
No greaves of brass nor shining shield nor spear, 
Armored with justice only, see him now, 
A Knight indeed without reproach or fear — 
Firm in thy cause proceed, illustrious youth, 
Thy purpose Duty, and thy guerdon Truth." 

The hands that piled the pyramids against the sky have 
long since crumbled into dust; the pyramids themselves 
still stand in undecaying majesty. The builders of our 
Pythian Parthenon pass, one by one, into the voiceless 
void — but who shall dare predict the fall of the temple 
they have reared. Broad and deep, solid and strong, its 
foundation stones rest on the rock of universal brother- 
hood. From each of its three corners rises the splendid 
symmetry of a symbolic column. Here a shining shaft 
of solid sapphire, wreathed from plinth to capital with the 
perennial verdure of the mystic myrtle ; there a pillar of 
pure and perfect topaz, gleaming like gold in the fervor of 
the sunlight ; yonder a glowing column of regal and radi- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



511 



ant ruby; between, set in the cement of fraternity, are 
massive walls, equal in size and strength and symmetry, as 
all who enter them are peers. Above arches the endur- 
ing dome of fadeless fidelity ; and still above, a tapering 
spire upsprings to pierce the sky — and from its summit 
floats serene the bannered beauty of the blue and gold 
and red. Its crystal windows glitter in the sunshine of 
prosperity ; its corridors echo the footfalls of myriads of 
loyal Knights ; its halls are resonant with the glad- voiced 
anthems of fraternal love ; and on its triple altar, guarded 
by the gleaming sword, the holy volume rests, which is 
our Book of Law, 

This is our Pythian temple ; the fane wherein abides 
the glory of our Pythian Trinity. 




512 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



A BROTHER'S HAND. 

66 The hand of a true Knight is ever open to a Brother in sickness 

or distress." 

A STRANGER trod with weary feet 
A distant city's crowded ways ; 
Along each thronged and busy street 

He passed with anxious, wistful gaze. 
No friendly glance returned his own, 

No cheerful greeting bade him stand ; 
Amid the crowd he moved alone, 

And longed to grasp a brother's hand. 

His face was brown and marked by care ; 

His hands were rough from honest toil; 
The frosts of time had bleached his hair, 

His feet were stained with country soil ; 
A shipwrecked sailor, old and poor, 

A stranger in a foreign land ; 
'Twould give him courage to endure 

Could he but grasp a brother's hand. 

A strange device this sailor bore — 

An emblem on a golden chain ; 
A passer marked the badge he wore, 

And checked his speed to look again ; 
Then stopped, advanced, by word and tone 

Welcomed the wanderer as his friend ; 
Tho' stranger's glance had met his own, 

He knew he grasped a brother's hand. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 



513 



That night within a Lodge-room's walls 

The shipwrecked sailor told his tale, 
And quick response to all his calls 

He met from friends who seldom fail. 
With lightsome heart and purse well stored 

He parted from that kindly band ; 
Blessings and gifts had on him poured 

Since first that brother grasped his hand. 

Thus brethren of the mystic chain 

Can find a friend in every clime, 
To cheer their hearts and ease their pain, 

As did this hero of my rhyme ; 
Tho' seas be crossed and mountains climbed 

To reach some strange and distant land, 
Yet even there they oft may find 

Some stranger brother grasp their hand. 

— The Jersey Knight. 




514 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



OUR ORDER ; ITS AIMS AND OBJECTS. 

BY HON. GEO. W. LINDSAY, P. S. C. 

NO more fitting response to the theme that is presented 
to our notice can be found than that contained in 
the "Declaration of Principles" of the Knights of 
Pythias adopted by the Supreme Lodge at its session in 
Cleveland, Ohio, in the year 1877, recognizing the uni- 
versality of human brotherhood. Its organization is de- 
signed to embrace the world within its jurisdiction, 
intended solely and only to disseminate the great princi- 
ple of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. 

Nothing of a sectarian or political character is permit- 
ted within its portals. Toleration in religion, obedience 
to laws, and loyalty to government are its cardinal prin- 
ciples. 

Misfortune, misery and death being written in fearful 
characters on the broad face of creation, our noble Order 
was instituted to uplift the fallen, to champion humanity, 
to be its guide and hope, its refuge, shelter and defense ; 
to soften down the asperities of life, to subdue party 
spirit, and by the secret and powerful attractions of this 
glorious trinity of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence 
to bind in harmonious brotherhood men of all classes 
and all opinions. 

The highest jewels which it garners are the tears of 
widows and orphans ; and its imperative commands are to 
visit the homes where lacerated hearts are bleeding; to 
assuage the sufferings of a brother, bury the dead, care for 
the widows, educate the orphans, to exercise charity to 
offenders, to view words and deeds in a favorable light, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 515 

granting honesty of purpose and good intentions to others, 
and to protect the principles of knighthood unto death. 
These, my brethren, are the principles of our beloved Or- 
der, and our aim and object is to carry out to the utmost 
these principles which we have proclaimed to the world. 

Vain, indeed, would be all our protestations of pur- 
pose if that purpose was not carried into effect, and as 
"sounding brass and tinkling cymbal" would be the 
name of our Order were its tenets and teachings left un- 
performed. But, brothers, I rejoice to say that our Order 
has proven itself worthy of the principles we profess. 
Could I present to your gaze to-night the array of widows 
and orphans whose tears have been wiped away by the 
ministering hands of true brother Knights of the Order, 
could I regale your ears with the sweet music of joyful 
thanksgiving arising from thousands of those whose grief 
you have assuaged, no words of mine would be necessary 
to be uttered on the subject chosen for this occasion. But 
in arrayed admiration you would turn to this scene and 
mingle your glad voices in the songs of thanksgiving 
to an All-wise Creator, that in His infinite wisdom He had 
seen fit to instill into the hearts and minds of the founders 
of our Order the aims and objects of its organization. 

The world at large, cold in self-aggrandizement, eager 
in pursuit of wealth, careless of the comforts or even 
the lives of others, feels, perhaps, no sympathy with 
our symbolic rites and ceremonies ; laughs to scorn our 
friendship ; believes nob in our charity ; but we who are 
bound together in the holy ties of fraternity have a 
stronger hold upon life. The wealth and pleasure of the 
outside world are but tinsel when compared with the pure 
gold of true brotherly love, and the pittance reluctantly 
thrown to the beggar, under the name of charity, is but 
an insult to that principle which is the most ennobling 
in its practice, and which always brings its own reward. 



5 l6 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Our aim is a high and noble one. It is to elevate 
ourselves by the practice of every virtue ; to assist each 
other by kind words, genial companionship, brotherly 
love and kindness, to rescue the fallen and to strengthen 
the upright ; for, in the wise dispensation of Providence, 
no man stands of his own strength. He needs at all time 
the counsel, aid and assistance of his fellow-man. And 
not only is our aim to thus render ourselves and each other 
worthy of membership in this noble Order of Knights of 
Pythias, but we go farther and extend a helping hand to 
the sick and distressed ; we soothe the aching brow of a 
suffering brother, watch by his sick-bed, render him real, 
tangible relief, and ease his mind of the dread fear for 
the future of his loved ones when he passes away, and 
when the last summons comes we lay him peacefully 
beneath the sods of the valley. His last moments are 
cheered by the thought that his brethren will care for his 
loved ones. Our aim is to do good, and with this in 
view we must attain the objects for which our Order was 
founded. Founded on nought but the purest and sin- 
cerest motives, and having its principles continually in 
view, we will endeavor to exemplify them by practical 
tests, and if, by the grace of God, we shall successfully 
carry out this object, we shall feel that our mission has 
not been in vain. 

So spoke in substance the founders of the Order, and 
so speak we to-night. May our labors not be in vain, but 
may each brother say, with brave hearts and willing hands, 
and a self-sacrificing spirit, we will go forward in the work 
so well begun, and cease not to labor until we are called 
away, leaving as an inheritance to our children and our 
childrens' children a shield of honor unspotted, and a 
name unsullied on the roll of Pythian Knighthood. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. $1? 



HYMN* 

WHO is the truly great and good ? 
Who worthy of the highest praise ? 
And who, among the sons of men, 

Shall hold the most distinguished name ? 

The man whose heart and hands are pure, 
Who rules his thoughts — who rules his will ; 

Resists temptation's fiercest flood, 
And keeps unstained his honor still ; 

Who heeds the cry of want and woe, 
Who gently soothes the sufferer's pain, 

Pities the tempted ones who fall, 
And sets them on their feet again ; 

Who walks 'neath heaven's o'erarching dome. 

Purely as angel's feet might tread, 
And love and faith combine to weave 

A glorious halo round his head; 

Who, earnest, keeps, with reverent step. 

The ways the pious fathers trod ; 
Who shuns the intoxicating cup, 

And loves his country and his God — 

He shall enjoy the highest praise 

To mortals due, to mortals given; 
Be owned an honor to his race, 

And wear the crown of life in heaven. 
Chicago, III., May 16, 1887. 

* By the courtesy of Gen. E. L. Brand, we are permitted to publish 
for the first time the foregoing poem, written and dedicated to the Order 
of the Knights of Pythias by the venerable and celebrated Rev. S. F. 
Smith, who composed our National Anthem "America." He is not a 
member of the Order, but having heard much of their good deeds, and 
noticing the emblems of honor and purity on the banners of the Illinois 
Brigade, he wrote and dedicated the hymn. — Pythian World. 



5l8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



ADDRESS 

at pythian banquet, at mount pleasant, iowa, febru- 
ary 9, 1876, by hon. jno. van valkenburg, p. s. c. 

Dear Friends and Brothers: 

WORDS are not adequate to convey to you our grat- 
itude for and high appreciation of this grand 
ovation, and in behalf of the representatives of 
the Pythian fraternity here assembled, permit me to re- 
turn our sincerest thanks to the Knights, wives, and 
daughters of this beautiful and prosperous inland city, for 
this princely reception. We have great cause to rejoice, 
as members of one of the greatest charitable Orders on 
earth, for the evidences which are constantly multiplying 
around us, that our works are approved of heaven, and 
that we constitute one of the silent, all-pervading influ- 
ences which tend to lift mankind to a higher plane of ex 
istence, by restraining the evil tendencies of man's nature 
and developing the nobler attributes. 

We imprint on the minds of our membership, through 
the beautiful and impressive lessons of the ritual, in the 
Castle Halls, that aside from the imperative duty of each 
one to love one another, and to practice the precepts in- 
culcated by the Savior, when on earth, that the pleasure 
of doing good and being good far transcends all mere 
sensual enjoyment. 

The ennobling virtues of Friendship, Charity and Be- 
nevolence are inscribed on our banners, and are the 
cardinal doctrines of the Order. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 5I9 

Each member is but a constituent element in the great 
social fabric, and the contributions of each make up the 
aggregate of human enjoyment ; the happiness and com- 
fort of the society being dependent on the kind words and 
deeds of the individual members. 

1 ' Friendship ! mysterious cement of the soul ! 
Sweet'ner of life ! and solder of Society ! 
For friendship, of itself an holy tie, 
Is made more sacred by adversity." 

And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly 
comprehended in the saying, namely, "Thou shalt love thy 
neighbor as thyself I " 

Our Order is based on the principle of men bearing 
each other's burdens, heightening each other's joys, and 
providing a barrier against the ills and misfortunes incident 
to human life. We are bound together by the holiest 
ties, cemented by common aims and fraternal affection, 
with grips, signs, countersigns and pass-words, as a means 
of recognition, whether on sea or land. 

In our daily lives and walk before men we strive to 
illustrate the pure principles of love and friendship, so 
beautifully expressed by Dryden, when he wrote, 

" I had a friend that lov'd me ; 
I was his soul; he liv'd not but in me." 

What a world of meaning is involved in the simple 
expression, "my friend!''' Have you ever paused and 
reflected over its full and true import ? If you have, 
you may be prepared to appreciate the matchless beauty 
and significance of the historical incident upon which our 
organization is based. 

With friendship as the corner-stone of the Pythian 
Temple, how can the Order fail to achieve success in the 
future ? 



520 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The knightly daring and sublime heroism of Samuel 
Holder Hines, in his attempt to rescue his friend at the 
burning of the Spottswood Hotel, in Richmond, Virginia, 
December 25th, 1870, stamps his name with immortality, 
and is a grand exemplification of the Pythian doctrines. 

"If a man loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, 
how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? " 

The friendship that prompted the Knights of Tennessee 
to provide every means of relief which human ingenuity 
could devise, for their brothers in the Bluff City, in 1873, 
when stricken by that terrible, loathsome disease, yellow 
fever, challenges the admiration of the world. Every 
luxury, every palliative, every remedial agent that money 
could purchase, were provided, and the members were like 
so many guardian angels watching by the bedside of the 
sick and dying, through the silent hours of the night, 
bathing the aching head and calming the fears, and in 
smoothing the pillow and making provision for the wants 
of their families. 

The general, who wins the battle at the sacrifice of 
thousands of his fellow-men, is covered with garlands and 
the wreath of fame encircles his brow, and a grateful peo- 
ple are lavish in their plaudits of ' i Well done thou good 
and faithful servant;" and ofttimes promote him to the 
highest civil honors. What words of eulogy will then 
suffice to paint our admiration of those gallant Knights 
who risked their lives in their works of mercy, for their 
stricken brethren ? If they had fallen in this grand work, 
where duty called them, their rewards could have been no 
greater, than the consciousness of having done their duty, 
in obedience to the mandates of our beloved Order. 

In all ages and in all climes men of every race, tribe, 
and tongue have banded themselves together for mutual 
protection, aid and safety. This association principle has 
been practiced upon in the erection of the family altar, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 521 

in the establishment of the State, and in the organization 
of National governments. As the unit is the basis of 
mathematics, so the family is the initial point and basis 
of all governmental affairs, and the fountain from which 
flows all the blessings of Church and State. This cen- 
tripetal force is the offspring of our social natures, and by 
its magnetic power draws men into the family, the tribe, 
the State, the Nation, the Church and the Lodge. 

By these intimate unions in families, churches, lodges, 
and in governmental matters, men acknowledge their 
dependence upon each other, and the happiness of the 
individual is created by the two-fold influences of doing 
good and receiving favors. Man was created for society, 
and can have no genuine pleasure without being sur- 
rounded by family and friends. From the cradle to the 
grave, at every step of his probationary existence, his 
utter helplessness appears and his entire dependence on 
others is apparent. This applies to the gratification of his 
temporal wants, as well as to the cravings and desires of 
his social nature. You might as well expect that the air 
of the Arctic regions would be freighted with the fra- 
grance of tropical fruits and flowers, and that you would 
be regaled with the sweet songs of birds amongst the ice- 
bergs of that desolate land, or that your heart would be 
gladdened with the delicate tints and hues of the daisy, 
violet, and rose in midwinter, as to hope to enjoy life 
without the society and sympathy of friends. " Trifles 
light as air make up the sum of human life." 

As diversified industry is the secret of a nation's 
wealth, so the opportunities afforded by the ever-varying 
conditions of human life to relieve each other's wants is 
the secret of individual happiness. 

All our teachings and practices tend toward this cen- 
tral idea, as the rivers run to the sea. No man can be a 
true Knight unless he swears fealty to the following code 



522 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

of morals, to wit : * ' To protect the principles of Knight- 
hood unto death, which are to protect the weak, defend 
the right, alleviate the sufferings of a brother, bury the 
dead, care for the widow and educate the orphan ; to 
practice those ennobling virtues, Friendship, Charity and 
Benevolence ; to exercise Charity toward offenders, to 
construe words and deeds in the least unfavorable light ; 
granting honesty of purpose and good intentions to others, 
and throwing the mantle of Charity over the unfortunate 
or misguided people that are to be found in every com- 
munity; to stop the circulation of slanders, and rebuke 
the slanderers ; to defend even the most bitter enemy 
when unjustly assailed — is to assist in the realization of 
the hopes of the Knights of Pythias — ' Peace on earth and 
good will toward men. ' " 

But there is " Charity," the practical and real exercise 
of love in the heart for all mankind, considering our fel- 
low-beings, as with ourselves, the images of the Almighty. 
Sympathy in the heart for a suffering fellow-being is 
" Charity." It blesseth him that receives and he that 
gives. We can have charity without gifts of gold. Charity 
pervades heaven with its halo emanating from the throne 
of God. 

I appeal to you, chivalric Knights, to illustrate in your 
daily lives the grand trio of principles embodied in our 
code of laws. Let each one of you strive to demonstrate 
that 

" Amid all life's quests 
There seems but worthy one — to do men good." 
That 

" The drying up a single tear has more 

Of honest fame, than shedding seas of gore." 

You will then prove important coadjutors in ushering 
in the golden era. 

Virgil, borrowing from the mysteries, sings of this age 
in a strain of sublime and lofty eloquence: 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 523 

' ' The last era of Cumsen song is now arrived, 
The great series of ages begins anew. 
Now, too, returns the Virgin Astraea — 
Returns the reign of Saturn. 
The serpent's sting shall die, 
And poison's fallacious plant shall die, 
And the Assyrian spikenard grow on every soil ; 
And blushing grapes shall hang on brambles rude, 
And dewy honey from hard oaks distill ; 
And fruits and flowers shall spring up everywhere 
Without man's care or toil. 
The sacred destinies, 

Harmonious in the established order of the Fates, 
Will sing to their spindles as they spin 
The mysterious threads of life." 

That golden age is yet in the distant future, though 
earnest hearts are praying for it, and our great Pythian 
Fraternity, with myriads of co workers, are toiling for it. 
Every true and earnest Knight, that kneels at the altar 
consecrated to genuine friendship, hastens its dawning. 

"When this festal day comes, then will our children's 
children be no more. We stand now in the evening, and 
see, at the close of our dark day, the sun go down with a 
red-hot glory and promise behind the last cloud, the still 
serene Sabbath-day of humanity ; but our posterity have 
yet to travel through a night full of wind, and through a 
cloud full of poison, till at last, over a happier earth an 
eternal morning-wind, full of blossom spirits moving on 
before the sun, expelling all clouds, shall breathe on men 
without a sigh." 

' ' Happy eyes, that shall see this morning ! 
Happy hearts, that shall feel its rapture ! n 



524 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD; ITS BASIS, ENDS 
AND PRINCIPLES. 

an address, delivered at fall river, mass., june 1 5, 1 885, 
by rev. l. v. price, of somerville, mass. 

Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

IT will be my endeavor on this occasion to bring before 
you the facts connected with Pythian Knighthood, that 

you may judge it for yourselves. 

In the first place, I call your attention to that on which 
the Order is founded. The Order of Knights of Pythias 
is built upon the truth of man's social nature. Man is a 
social being. Deny him the companionship of kindred 
spirits and his moral nature is contracted, the deepest truth 
within him remains undiscovered, the highest pleasures are 
untasted. All the nobler purposes of life fail of realiza- 
tion. This means more than the mere living with men in 
the same hamlet or city ; the joining of hands for the ac- 
complishment of some temporary end ; the meeting to- 
gether in parlor or church for an hour's entertainment or 
worship. This does not meet the requirements of our 
social nature, as you all very well know. A man may be 
in a crowd and have no society. He stands within himself 
alone. He feels tremendously this loneliness, and is im- 
pelled to make friends, even if it be among the worst of 
mankind. Here appears one of the reasons why so many 
of our sons and daughters are rushed to their ruin on en- 
tering our large towns and cities. They have no helpful 
society. The society they ought to have is not easy to 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 525 

find ; the society they ought not to have is thrust upon 
them. This need not happen among true Knights. A 
Knight or his children, going as strangers into a strange 
place where there are brother Knights, can, if they choose 
to do so, find at once loyal friends, who will not only in- 
troduce them into helpful society, but who will defend 
their honor to the full extent of their power. Pythian 
Knighthood fully appreciates the fact that absence from 
home intensifies the wants of man's social nature, and 
makes it more than ever necessary that he find genuine 
friends. 

The Order takes account of the fact that man's social 
nature demands something besides the mere formalities of 
social gatherings ;* something more lasting and intimate 
than mere acquaintances ; something that will engage the 
virtues of his heart, call out the deepest sentiments of his 
mind, inspire him with new interest in life, and open to him 
opportunities for sympathetic intercourse and beneficent 
service. What man needs is the society of those con- 
genial to all that is truest and best within him ; the society 
of those who respond to the profoundest cravings of his 
heart, the highest aspirations of his soul. In such a pres- 
ence his social nature finds its true freedom and element. 
He can speak out the deepest thought within him ; can be 
true to his better self; can strengthen others and be 
strengthened. Instead of touching his fellow-men on the 
ever-guarded outer rim, where all is more or less artificial 
and formal, interior life goes direct to interior life, there to 
give and to take all that is best for the mutual comfort 
and good of each. This is what man's social nature needs 
in order to be true to its divine idea ; in order to realize 
its divine possibilities ; in order to best serve and promote 
virtue, develop and perfect character. 

Much as men need this, however, there is very little 
of it in our day. Men meet men in a formal way, are 



526 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

respectful, and in a sense interested in one another, but 
there is no great degree of real socialness. Few, even in 
the same near neighborhood, meet as friends. All that 
has in it most of the real self is concealed beneath a 
studied politeness, a cultivated manner. This lack of 
socialness and the rarity of neighborhood society, where 
families meet for genuine, helpful intercourse, is very 
marked in our large towns and cities. It is a growing evil 
of our times. It is one of the things widening the gulf 
between the different elements of the body politic, work- 
ing serious harm to our common human life, and making 
it more than ever difficult to effect reform or regenerate 
mankind. 

Now, the Order of Pythian Knighthood takes account 
of this great primary need of man's nature and aims to 
meet it, on a plane honorable and exalted. The Order 
rests on the ever-recurring needs of man as a social being. 
It has beneath it, therefore, a permanent foundation. 
Resting on this bottom rock, it has a reason for existing 
as mighty and lasting as the nature of man himself. It 
has but to be true to itself, keep steadily to the truth 
which gave it birth, to take and hold its place among the 
man-building and man-helping institutions of all future 
time. The Order is an organized check on the growing 
selfishness of our times, and an organized opportunity for 
the development of mutual faith and good- will as a ground 
for a more real, restful and beneficial social life. A better 
foundation no human institution ever had. No greater 
surety for its future can be desired. It meets in a helpful 
way a real need. It unites men by such solemn and hon- 
orable bonds that in all their mutual intercourse they are 
at liberty to act out unreservedly their real better selves, 
and to appeal for such criticism, counsel or help as will 
best enable them to realize the noblest ends of their being. 
The stranger is made welcome at the fireside of any 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 527 

brother Knight. He realizes that his property, his honor, 
his life, are sacred and safe. He is free in the presence of 
his friend to speak out his thought, and be what he really 
is, a social being. Surely, regarded simply in the light of 
this social need, Pythian Knighthood must touch a true 
chord in every true, manly heart, and in time secure for 
itself a castle hall in every community. 

Turning now from this point connected with our Order, 
let me call your attention to the ends Pythian Knight- 
hood seeks to attain in the interest of mankind. They are 
in harmony with the truth on which the Order is founded, 
and are the logical outcome of man's need as a social 
being. 

First : The Order seeks to instruct the mind in regard 
to the solemn obligations and duties of life, to develop 
the social and moral virtues, to make men more fraternal 
and better fitted for the social state. The very fact that 
man is a social being and must live in a society of his 
fellow-men, carries with it obligation and duty. He is 
under obligation to be accessible to all who may have 
cause to approach him, amiable in manner and in speech, 
considerate and gentle in controversy, hospitable and 
polite in the home. It is his imperative duty to cultivate, 
develop, make real, and daily practice these noble and 
essential virtues that he may be a comfort and an example 
to others. The Order aims to secure these results in the 
life and character of every Knight, and once secured, no 
true man need feel himself alone in the world. On land 
or sea, at home or abroad, he knows that he is the object 
of fraternal solicitude. He has no fears of being forgotten 
or forsaken by those educated to regard him as a brother 
and obligated to be mindful of his rights and interests. 
He rests in the assurance that strong hands and brave 
hearts are guarding his fireside and his honor. 



528 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

This is one of the ends Pythian Knighthood seeks to 
attain. It is perfectly clear that men must not only know 
and do their duty each to the other, but do over-duty 
from motives of brotherly regard, if life is to be worth the 
living. Every Knight is thoroughly instructed in these 
matters and urged by the highest considerations that can 
be brought to bear upon the human heart and conscience 
outside those of our holy religion, to strive for the happi- 
ness of brother Knights, even at the cost of his own. 

Secondly : Another end is to make every Knight a 
true and good man. A man may be a very acceptable 
Knight, measured merely by his obligations and the man- 
ner in which they are kept, but lack certain elements of a 
true and well rounded manhood. He may have habits or 
vices at variance with the best interests of his life and 
those associated with him. There is no winking at these 
where the brotherhood is loyal to covenant obligations 
and duties. Every lodge is not only a sacredly guarded 
home, but is also a training-school, where every Knight is 
taught and trained to be temperate, true, brave, gener- 
ous, high-minded and clean-hearted. Bad habits are 
firmly but kindly denounced, and persistent, decided 
efforts are made to correct them. No vice is licensed. 
All wrongness, either against self or another, is forbidden 
as unworthy a true Knight. The man who enters our 
Castle Hall enters it with the avowed purpose to make 
himself, so far as possible, aided by the advice and co-op- 
eration of his brethren, a true and good man. The con- 
duct and character of a Knight is a matter of great interest 
to every true and well governed lodge. According to the 
constitution and principles of the Order a lodge must be 
anxious for a brother's good name and right action under 
all conditions of life. For this reason a lodge loyal to its 
charter seeks to sustain a brother Knight and keep him in 
the path of virtue, not only in the hour of prosperity, but 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 529 

also to help him and still keep him upright and honorable 
in the hour of adversity. He is expected to be, and it is 
the aim of the Order to make him a good husband, a good 
father, a good neighbor, and a good citizen. 

Thirdly: Still another end, cherished and sacred in 
the Order, and one daily attained, is mutual relief. The 
first and second lead up to this and mingle with it. Man 
is liable to sickness, accident, disappointment, failure, loss 
of employment, misrepresentation, excess of care, or 
trouble of every kind which may distress, discourage, or 
drive him to despair, if not sustained by strong, brave 
hearts. More than this, he is beset by temptation, sur- 
rounded by evil, assailed by enemies, met by difficulties 
on every hand, and is liable to be overcome and destroyed 
if not strengthened and defended by true and tried friends. 
Herein is indicated what man needs to have done for him 
by his fellow-men in the way of relief. These needs are 
all taken account of by the Order of Pythian Knighthood, 
and provision is made to meet them promptly to the full 
extent of the personal and the united capabilities of the 
brotherhood. Thus its idea of relief is comprehensive, far- 
reaching. It disdains to narrow down the idea to mere 
dollars and cents. As indicated, man often needs some- 
thing else far more. Money may be but mockery when 
the nobler gift is withheld. The Order therefore makes 
relief as broad as the needs of man. It includes every- 
thing in the way of sacrifice or service for the relief or 
comfort of any who have aught of sorrow or care. 

Now, bringing these great and eminently worthy ends 
together on the basis of fellowship, we see how it is that 
Pythian Knighthood seeks to lessen the evils and promote 
the happiness of mankind. It has no other ends, relig- 
ious, social, political, secret or concealed from the public. 
It is a secret Order, but only so far secret as to give it 
organic life and perpetuity of being, to protect itself 



530 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

against impostors, and to insure the recognition of a 
brother traveling among strangers or appealing to a lodge 
for help in any town or city of the world. The funda- 
mental principles of the Order, its constitution and laws, 
its sublime aims and unsurpassed record of beneficent 
deeds, are all before the world and within easy reach of 
any who wish for light or information. Certainly, an 
Order seeking such high, noble ends at great cost of time, 
labor and money, can not in itself be bad. It must be 
good, worthy the support and defense of every true man. 
Thus far you must agree with me in pronouncing our 
Order a friend and blessing to humanity. 

Having thus noticed the basis of our Order, and the 
ends it aims to attain in the interests of the brotherhood, 
I now call your attention to its fundamental principles — 
the Trinity of Virtues — by which the ends of Knighthood 
are to be attained. They are Friendship, Charity and 
Benevolence. 

First. Friendship. There are three senses in which 
the term is used. The friendship having its root in mo- 
tives of what is agreeable, and therefore called the friend- 
ship of pleasure; the friendship having its root in self- 
interest, and therefore called the friendship of utility ; and 
last, the friendship having its root in disinterested love, 
and therefore called the friendship of virtue. This is 
friendship par excellence, and is possible only between the 
pure and good. It is the ideal friendship of Pythian 
Knighthood. The friendship of pleasure and the friend- 
ship of utility are recognized, admitted and acted upon in 
our Order but only as the ground for securing in each 
Knight the reality of the ideal — the friendship of virtue. 
In every organization men are admitted, of necessity so, 
who are honorable, true men, but who are not capable at 
first and on formal acquaintance of commanding the love 
of their fellow-men. They must be received, if at all, as 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 53 1 

friends; must be treated as such, and all the duties of 
friendship must be performed toward them. This can be 
done only from motives of pleasure or utility. Recogniz- 
ing this fact, Pythian Knighthood exalts this baser kind of 
friendship by placing each Knight under solemn and 
binding obligations to put into it his honor and his life. 
It carries with it all a man is or has. It makes him faith- 
ful to his friend even unto death. It is a friendship that 
proves itself in the hour of trial or peril. Whatever a 
Jonathan would do for a David because he loved him, 
whatever a Pythias would do for a Damon because he 
loved him, that one Knight will do for another, if from no 
other motive because of his covenant vows. This is a 
friendship so far ideal that it leaves no duty of friendship, 
however delicate or severe, unperformed. The precepts 
and offices of the ideal enter so far into the real that a true 
Knight is impelled by all that he holds dear or sacred to 
exhaust every resource within his reach to promote the 
welfare of a brother or his family. It is a friendship which 
begets reciprocal good feeling, if not the divinest love, in 
the breasts of Pythian Knights, and nerves the strong right 
arm to strike in defense of each other's honor or each 
other's right. It dares to sacrifice, to suffer, to die. 

Secondly. Charity. What do we mean by charity ? 
What is it ? Is it something capable of being a practical 
working virtue in a mixed society? Is it a virtue possible 
alike to saints and sinners ? The kind of charity needed 
in our Order is that which will serve man in his associa- 
tions with men of unlike temperaments, holding unlike 
opinions on many grave questions, and strongly competing 
for honors or vantage ground in life. Evidently a work- 
ing charity, therefore differs somewhat from the ideal of 
the philosopher, poet or preacher. It is a virtue possible 
to all alike. 



532 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Charity is not mere benevolence. Dictionaries may 
thus define it, but it is not that. A man may be benevo- 
lent, yet exceedingly uncharitable to others who may 
chance to differ from him in either belief or station. 

It is not mere affection of the heart. It is something 
quite different, and works where affection does not. Af- 
fection is dependent upon the agreeableness of its object, 
and is thus active only in certain directions and in connec- 
tion with certain persons. Charity must be active in all 
directions, and in connection with all classes or conditions 
of men. It can be no respecter of persons. 

Neither is charity love in the sense in which that term 
is used by sacred writers. Love, in its true sense, is higher 
and more comprehensive than charity. It supersedes the 
necessity of charity, for it. includes all the lesser virtues. 
They flow out of it much as light and heat and color flow 
out of a sunbeam. 

If not any one of these, then what is it? It is a 
peculiar disposition of mind obtained by processes of 
thought and mental decision whereby one becomes habitu- 
ally tolerant of differences in men, puts the best possible 
construction on their actions or characters, and exercises 
toward them benignity, compassion and generosity. 

This is a charity within reach of all men, as it is be- 
gotten of meditation and enlightened self-interest. Every 
man, if he so desires, can acquire that disposition of mind 
which takes account of all unlikes and dislikes in men as a 
ground for extended kind offices. This, too, regardless of 
age, color, nationality, sentiment or faith. Knightly 
charity, therefore, is the beautiful flower of the intellect 
as love is of the heart. It embraces all the " oughts " and 
" ought-nots" that arise in our associations with men tha^ 
make for peace and good-will. It is pre-eminently a 
working social virtue, and no mere sentiment. It may 
not be the charity of the religious enthusiast, nor the 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 533 

charity of the dreamer's inspired fancy, but it is the charity 
of common sense, a power in practical every-day life. 
Earnest men banded together for mutual benefits, differ- 
ing in views, callings, aims, dispositions, need the prac- 
tical working virtues — virtues they can get hold of and use 
in their dealings with each other. Such is Knightly 
charity. As much as any one thing, it helps to fit man 
for society. The very process of acquiring it calls up and 
cultivates many other graces of mind, many other excel- 
lencies of character. 

Thirdly. Benevolence. What is benevolence as a 
working virtue of Pythian Knighthood? It is not an- 
other name for charity any more than charity is another 
name for friendship. It is something different from either, 
though partaking of the nature of both. Benevolence is 
friendship and charity incarnating themselves in deeds. 
It is a virtue linking heart and head together in efforts for 
another's good. It is not, therefore, a calculating invest- 
ment of time, energy or money, with expectation of profit, 
but disinterested, spontaneous good-doing. Benevolence 
is as essential to a true Knight as the air he breathes. It 
is the thought and language of his friendship and charity. 
These virtues must speak out in beneficent deeds or they 
themselves cease to be. For this reason, if for no other, 
a true Knight is ever persistent, conscientious, faithful in 
speaking the encouraging word, in doing the helpful deed. 

Benevolence lays a tax on our time, energies, means, 
in the interest of our fellow-men — especially brother 
Knights and their families. It causes us to turn aside 
from the mart of trade, from the fascinations of society, 
from the peace and charm of our own fireside, to visit the 
abode of poverty, the home of affliction, the chamber of 
hidden grief, there to do in a noiseless, unobtrusive way all 
in our power to comfort or relieve. Benevolence takes us 
to the bedside of the sick and the dying, to win them 



534 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

back to life or soothe their passage to the grave. It bids 
us stand by the side of the widow, to assure her by word 
and by deed that 

" Other hearts share the burden of grieving 
When loved ones lie under the pall." 

It orders us to watch by the cradle of the orphan, and 
shield the fatherless from the evils and ills of an un- 
friendly world. It summons us to the place where sorrow 
appears, or the blow of misfortune has fallen, to console 
the grief or bind up the wound. This is the kind of per- 
sonal benevolence enjoined upon every Knight by our 
Order in the most solemn and impressive manner. Per- 
sonal good-doing, quietly and alone, independent of all 
injunctions or committees, is the very life of his friend- 
ship and charity. These virtues struggle into good deeds 
as naturally and necessarily as the life in the plant strug- 
gles into flower and fruit. 

Knightly benevolence is not only personal, voluntary 
good-doing, but organized, systematic good-doing. Every 
lodge has a committee to visit the sick, minister unto their 
wants, and, in case of death, to arrange, when desired or 
necessary, for the burial of the dead. In every lodge 
there is a widow and orphans' fund, which is used to aid 
the widow and educate the orphan of a deceased brother. 
Weekly benefits are paid to a sick or disabled brother, and, 
when necessary, donations or loans are made to him. In 
all towns or cities where there are two or more lodges, a 
joint Relief Committee is appointed to look after transient 
brethren who may have been overtaken by sickness, 
accident, or be otherwise in want. Besides these forms of 
organized good-doing there is the Endowment Rank, pay- 
ing to the family or friends of a deceased brother of this 
Rank sums varying from one to three thousand dollars. 

Thus, the governing principles of our Order are sub- 
stantial, practical, working virtues, and not the mere 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 535 

ideals of sentiment or fancy. Friendship, Charity and 
Benevolence constitute with us a triple chain of vital 
forces, uniting heart and hand in good-doing, and what is 
more, girding and binding together in solid and everlast- 
ing unity the whole brotherhood for high, noble and 
essential ends. An Order governed by these virtues 
must bless and benefit mankind. 

The Order of Pythian Knighthood, therefore, does 
not come before you with any apologies, does not appeal 
to you for your patronage, but simply asks for a candid, 
unprejudiced hearing I am confident that any who in- 
forms himself as to what the Order is y will regard it 
with unqualified favor. Its principles and aims, its record 
of beneficent deeds, will show that it ranks with Masonry 
and Odd-Fellowship as one of the great humane institu- 
tions of this age, as one of the positive forces arrayed 
against the evils of the world, and seeking the present and 
future good of the race. 

Such is Pythian Knighthood as I know it. The Order 
exists only to do good to men. While it is not avowedly 
a religious society, no atheist, the lodge knowing him to 
be such, can become a member of our Order, and while it 
is not avowedly a temperance society, no intemperate 
man, if the lodge is true to its charter, can be admitted to 
our ranks. The Order, as such, seeks to make men up- 
right, temperate, true and good. Its teaching, influence 
and authority are all on the side of genuine manliness. 
It aims to put into the home a good husband and father, 
into society a good neighbor, into the state a good citi- 
zen. It endeavors to put behind virtue a strong protector, 
behind human rights a brave defender, behind social order 
a vigilant guardian, behind civil law a mighty administra- 
tive power. In brief, the Order aims to make human life 
more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting its peace 
and prosperity, its gladness and hope. 



536 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD, 



PYTHIAN ADDRESS, 

AT NEWTON, KANSAS, FEB. 1 9, 1 884, BY HON. G. W. HOLMES. 

Mr. Chairman, Sir Knights and Brothers, Ladies and 
Gentlemen : 

JF by authority of the Commander of the Universe the 
fiat should be issued for nature's forces to halt in their 

onward march, nay, more, if the same Power should 
reverse the wheels of time it would take but a comparative 
moment to go back through twenty years of its retrospec- 
tive course. Removing the doubtful "if" and imagining 
that the decree has gone forth, when we reach the twenti- 
eth mile-post in the annals of our nation's history, thus 
reversed, we will halt and study the surroundings. 

'Tis the winter of eighteen hundred and sixty-four. 
The greatest struggle that e'er convulsed the world is 
being enacted on the American stage. Borne to our ears 
by every blast, wafted on every breeze, are the groans of 
the wounded and dying, the sighs and wailings of bereaved 
and sorrowing friends, mourning the loss of loved ones. 
Hovering over a nation of brothers fighting their brothers 
are the sable wings of darkness and despair. 

We listen more intently as the mingled voices become 
more confused, and we note an undertone of daring and 
determination that pledges life — and life till death — to the 
struggle, until from the Pacific coast to Passamaquoddy 
Bay, from the frozen Lake of the Woods to the orange 
groves of Florida, triumphant paeans of victory shall 
proclaim the Union restored, with Justice, Liberty and 
Loyalty a glorious bequest to every American citizen. 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 537 

While yet we listen there comes to our ears from the 
historic soil of old Virginia the tramp, tramp, tramp of 
armed squadrons preparing for the most desperate struggle 
the world has seen. 

Around the base of Lookout Mountain the invincible 
Army of the Tennessee bids old Tecumseh take the lead 
to victory or to death. The sun goes down upon the 
scene while a million hearts would fain forget, in dreamless 
sleep, the darkest hour America ever saw. And yet amid 
the gloom, amid the blood, amid the throes and convul- 
sions of that internecine tempest, 

PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD WAS BORN. 

Its cradle was rocked by the red hand of Revolution. 

The boom of cannon ; the screech of shells ; the roar 
and rattle of musketry, and the clash of arms, proclaimed 
that hate, malice and envy were reaping their harvest of 
destruction and death. 

How beautiful the thought to summon from her throne 
of beauty and peace the Goddess of Friendship and Love ! 
How strange, and yet how grand, the scene when she 
fearlessly mingles with the turbulent masses — the discord- 
ant elements of war and woe, and on that Friday evening, 
the nineteenth day of February, 1864, at Temperance 
Hall, unites with bonds and fetters stronger far than 
brass or triple steel, the hearts and efforts of that handful 
of brothers, who, with J. H. Rathbone as their leader, 
organized Washington Lodge, Number One, the first lodge 
of Pythian Knights in the world. 

Who can wonder as he contemplates the issues of that 
hour that love — all potential love — should almost have 
been driven from our midst, and, in our overthrow, ban- 
ished from existence, in its incipiency, an Order based on 
Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. 



538 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

Millions of Americans, naturalized as well as native, 
on hundreds of sanguinary fields, had shown their courage 
equal to the task of nerving them for any conflict, even 
where dangers seemed thickest; the fullness of time had 
come ; a new dispensation was opening. Friendship and 
love were about to remove from the hearts of men the 
demons of malice and envy, and, united with prudence and 
courage, bind together a noble band that was destined to 
form the nucleus of a mighty army that would in a brief 
space become one of the leading agencies of earth to 
propagate the ennobling and purifying influences that tend 
to ameliorate the condition of humanity. 

I have not time to detail to you the trials and conflicts 
that baffled our efforts and hindered the growth of our 
Order during its earliest years. In a few months from the 
time when Pythian Knighthood was instituted, the curtain 
rolled up and the last scene in the American tragedy that 
began in 1861, was open to our view. That which not 
long before seemed but the blackness of despair had dis- 
appeared, and white winged messengers of Peace an- 
nounced the conflict ended, while a million voices woke 
responsive echoes in a million breasts, proclaiming peace 
again restored; that malice, envy, spite and hate had 
done their worst and failed, and now were hastening 
downward to the dark and dismal shades of desolation 
whence they came ; that Friendship, Charity and Benevo- 
lence had come to stay in human souls, and thus restore, 
as rapidly as Heaven decrees, the pristine glory of the 
human race. But 

WHAT IS PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD? 

'Tis a query often asked, and, doubtless, many here 
to-day would fain receive an answer from the words they 
hear. Some ask the question from mere idle curiosity ; 
others would seek to know the truth that they, too, may 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 539 

have a part or share in what we deem as worthy of our 
work and love. 

A Knight of Pythias is to the uninformed, merely cas- 
ual observer, simply a member of one of the many secret 
benevolent organizations, represented by lodges in almost 
every city of our Union ; to the student of history he is 
the representative of an Order based upon one of the 
grandest historical incidents ever chronicled, the story of 
Damon and Pythias, a story simply eloquent in its briefest 
recital. 

Damon, doomed to death, was refused even the privi- 
lege of bidding his wife and child farewell before the fatal 
hour of doom. Pythias, his friend, pleads for Damon — 
not for his life — but only brief delay, and offers himself, 
unasked, as a hostage, a pledge for Damon's return from 
the farewell visit to his wife, a pledge that if his friend 
come not at the appointed time he his own life will give 
to satisfy the tyrant's claim. 

The pledge was accepted. Damon was at liberty to 
go and speak the last sad words of parting to his wife and 
child. Pythias, in chains and in the dungeon, waited for 
the hour of execution when his own life, if Damon failed 
to come within the time appointed, would be offered up 
to satisfy the pledge he had given for his friend. 

' ' In the city the hours of the afternoon were swiftly 
passing ; the hands upon the dial in the great square ap- 
proached the sunset hour and Damon had not yet returned 
and no signs of his appearance. No flying horseman, no 
dust-cloud on the distant hill-side extended one ray of 
hope to the brave soul of Pythias as he was led forth to 
execution; but with his face all radiant with smiles he 
exclaimed ' 'Tis sweet to die for those we love. ' In the 
west the sun was sinking lower ; in the east the shadows 
were climbing higher and higher the distant hills, while in 
the tower of the great clock the hammer was already raised 



540 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

to strike the hour upon the bell that would proclaim the 
death-knell of our Pythias and stamp with falsehood and 
treachery the friendship of Damon. But at this instant, 
dust-stained and breathless, Damon broke through the 
line of guards and fell exhausted upon the scaffold." 

Who of us here to-day but, as he thinks that such 
devotion to a friend was tried and proven true, will feel a 
thrill of joyous exultation pass along each nerve and once 
again resolve that future years will prove our friendship 
true, believing that the love of man for fellow-man is 
surest test of love to God. 

But to the truly loyal Knight there is a more signifi- 
cant meaning in the term ' ' A Pythian Knight. ' ' 

He knows that ritualistic work means more than form 
or evening's pastime ; that in this century, often termed 
prosaic, he may not e'er be called, as Pythias was, to 
offer up his life to save a friend. But, as he learns the 
history of selfishness and cruel wrongs with which our 
earth has e'er been cursed, he feels the need of binding 
men together in the bonds of love fraternal ' ' to protect 
the principles of Knighthood unto death." He realizes 
that no grander objects e'er were placed before a mortal 
man to be secured, and none which, when secured, would 
more promote the happiness of man than those laid down 
as purposes and objects of a Pythian Knight. 

' ' Protect the weak ; defend the right ; alleviate the suf- 
ferings of a brother ; watch with the sick ; bury the dead ; 
care for the widow ; educate the orphan ; practice those 
ennobling virtues, Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. 
Exercise charity towards offenders ; construe words and 
deeds in their least unfavorable light ; granting honesty of 
purpose and good intentions to others, and throwing the 
mantle of charity over the unfortunate or misguided ; stop 
the circulation of slanders and rebuke the slanderers ; de- 
fend even the most bitter enemy when unjustly assailed." 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE* 54 1 

These principles are what our Order teaches men to 
practice ; and every man who e'er became a Pythian 
Knight is taught to make the attainment of these objects 
his principal aim in life. 

Friendship, Charity and Benevolence are the three 
distinguishing characteristics or admonitions of Pythian 
Knighthood — "a sacred trialogue of three distinctive 
forces that vitalize and energize our Order." 

First. Friendship, which defined, means an aptness 
to unite — an affinity — a correspondence. There can be 
no friendship without confidence, and no confidence with- 
out integrity. 'Twas friendship, sustained by confidence 
and based upon integrity, that enabled Pythias to brave 
all dangers, withstand even the pleadings and promises of 
his chosen bride, and gaze unflinchingly upon the instru- 
ments of death, so that even the headsman's axe reflected 
a face all radiant with smiles. 

'Twas just such friendship as this that animated the 
soul and nerved the arm of Knight Samuel H. Hines, 
on the morning of December 25, 1870, when the Spots- 
wood Hotel, in Richmond, Virginia, was in flames. As 
he emerged from the burning building, and when he had 
already reached a place of safety, he remembered that a 
brother Knight was yet unsaved. With a determination 
and bravery unexcelled he dashed into that tempest of 
roaring, raging flames, to seek and save a brother, made 
so by the ties of friendship. But his efforts were unavail- 
ing ; just as he re-appeared at the window of an upper 
story, bearing in his arms his exhausted and helpless 
brother, and before assistance could reach them from 
below, a crash of falling walls is heard, and amid the 
crackling, horrible blaze, Knight Samuel H. Hines yields 
up his life to save a friend and brother Knight. Such is 
pure and perfect friendship, sustained by confidence and 
based upon integrity. 



542 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

The story of Samuel Holder Hines, along with the 
story of Damon and Pythias, ' ' will ring out like a silver 
bell through the storms of all the centuries, and from 
whose music humanity shall catch fresh inspiration, and, 
toiling upward through the shadowy years, shall stand 
erect at last upon the mount of its transfiguration. And 
so long as the ages shall roll, so long as earth treasures 
the memory of the true, the heroic and the sublime, just 
so long will these stories continue to mould the purposes 
and shape the actions of men." 

Then is there with us here to-day one soul that does 
not thrill with recollections of what heroes such as these 
have done for fellow-men ? And do we hear a voice to 
bid us halt the Pythian army in its onward course, and 
ne'er again engage in heralding to sorrowing, doubtful 
men the fact that if they come within the Castle Hall of 
Pythian Knights, we'll teach them how to live a nobler 
life — we'll teach them how to die, if needs be, for the 
glory of the human race ? If such a voice there is, me* 
thinks 'twould paralyze the tongue that speaks the words. 

When friendship such as this binds man to man and 
soul to soul, then charity will fill the earth. Then envy, 
malice, hate and scorn will yield their thrones in human 
hearts to love's all potent, peaceful sway, and through 
and over our fair earth will be dispensed Benevolence, the 
third in the trinity of Pythian virtues. 

We cannot hope to see the full fruition of that hour ; 
it is not morning yet, but earnest hearts are hoping and 
praying for it ; strong hands are working for it. But none 
are striving more earnestly for that morning, none more 
hopefully praying for its dawn, than are the thousands of 
leal Knights who surround the Pythian altars in the Castle 
Halls to be found in every portion of our land. Nor is 
ours a dead faith and a foolish hope ; we prove our faith 
by our works. There are Knights here who vividly re- 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 543 

member days of bodily suffering, when moments seemed 
hours, and hours seemed an eternity. They also remem- 
ber that when these moments and hours of suffering 
seemed longest, a brother Knight would come to their 
bedside, and, with ministering hands and words of en- 
couragement and cheer, bid hope revive and courage re- 
turn to assist nature in restoring them to health. 

A stranger in a strange land, without money, becoming 
sick or disabled, is frequently neglected and allowed to 
suffer for lack of proper care and attention. There are 
doubtless those within the sound of my voice who fully 
realize what the lack of proper care and attention means. 
But if, when trouble and sorrow comes, you are so 
fortunate as to be in possession of the talismanic word 
that proves your connection with Pythian Knighthood — if 
by your friendship you have shown yourself worthy to be 
enrolled with other Pages, eager to be advanced in the 
ranks and learn more of the mysteries of our Order ; if 
you have shown by your consistent life and prudent course 
of conduct that you are cautiously, yet nobly, taking rank 
with the Esquires ; if you have demonstrated by acts that 
bear the native hue of bravery, that you are worthy to 
gird on the whole armor of a Pythian Knight, thus shield- 
ing off the shafts of envy and spite, and ever ready with 
the sword of truth to hew your way through falsehood 
and error until the summit of Pythian Knighthood has 
been attained, you will find no lack of friends — fraternal 
care and attention will be given you without stint. 

Nor is this exclusiveness, because we especially devote 
our lives to caring for our brother Knights ; for, if it is 
exclusive — and because thereof should merit censure more 
than praise — then Holy Writ should likewise censured be. 
In the times when all the earth was pagan darkness, 
when vice and crime of every sort engulfed our earth in 
human blood, and when, if ever in the history of man, all 



544 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

classes and conditions of the human race should have re- 
ceived the aid and sympathy of God's elect ; then it was, 
if Biblical history be true, when God Himself would not 
permit His chosen people to even mingle with the other 
nations of their day and age. And Christ, the accepted 
Savior of the world, selected for His followers a chosen 
band, to whom He gave especial care and thought, pre- 
paring them for future work in efforts to evangelize the 
world. And this especial care and love, since He no 
longer dwells upon the earth in human form, is promised 
to the "household of faith." 

While our teachings as an Order require our friend- 
ship, care and love to be a special shield and solace to our 
brothers of the Knightly rank, they offer no restrictions to 
our charity and benevolence being exercised towards those 
who do not belong to the "household of faith ; " and 
make your search where'er you will, no equal number 
can be found with more exalted notions of their fellow- 
men, and none with broader views of charity for human 
kind, of whatever name or race, than our growing army 
of Pythian Knights. 

Then, brothers and Sir Knights, what more propitious 
hour than this to pledge anew our lives to Pythian hopes 
and aims. Gird on your swords and shields and ne'er 
again give up your arms so long as any can be found who 
do not yield assent to the ennobling principles and aims 
that we, as Knights of Pythias, would have disseminated 
in every land and enthroned in every breast. For in this 
cause we do not stand alone. Sustaining and assisting in 
this grand campaign are thousands more who do not hail 
us brothers by the talismanic name of " Knight," but yet 
who share our pleasure in their efforts, joined with ours, to 
fraternize the human race. Whether known as ' * Ancient, 
Free and Accepted Masons," "Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows," or by whatever name they choose to designate 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 54$ 

themselves, we say give honor and praise to each and all 
whose aim and object is to elevate the race of man, and 
bring about that era when the pure and good will mount 
the thrones in human hearts, and evil passions, strife and 
hate go hence to darkness and despair, their natural home. 

And, though we tread our way 'mid clouds and dark- 
ness now ; though disappointments, doubts and fears at 
times obstruct our course and leave us groping blindly 
through the gloom ; though none who mingle with us now 
can hope to see the full fruition of that hour, when morn- 
ing's sunshine shall dispel all gloom and shed o'er all our 
earth the bright effulgence of that peace and joy which 
the Millennial dawn will bring; though our distinguished 
guest* may occupy the highest seat which our loved Order 
gives, and be succeeded by an hundred more as noble and 
as loved as he, ere yet that hour shall come, we have no 
cause to fear or yield us to despair. The twenty years 
since first our Order stepped upon the stage is very brief 
compared with ages yet to come. We have not reached 
the age which gives to man his legal right to cast his 
ballot for the cause he deems most just, or against the 
evil that his reason teaches should be overthrown. 

We do not date our Order from the time when dark- 
ness overspread the earth — when "man's inhumanity to 
man "made death seem sweeter boon than life. We 
claim a grander hour of birth — an hour when all the grand 
and noble thoughts that moved the souls of men to valiant 
deeds of yore seemed centered in, and urging on, the race 
and nation that we represent — inciting men, and women, 
too, as well, to unexampled efforts in the cause of human 
progress and for the liberty of man. 

The history of our career, if astrologic lore is worth 
the time it takes to read, proves that our planets were 

*Hon. John VanValkenburg, Supreme Vice Chancellor. 



546 



PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



propitious ; that the star of Pythian Knighthood that gave 
such feeble light when first it pierced the rumbling and 
death-dealing clouds, just twenty years ago, is destined by 
decree of fate to far outshine all others that have come to 
light, and guide the race of men to better lives and holier 
aims — excepting only that bright star that guided to the 
infant Christ in Bethlehem of old. 

And ere this nineteenth century shall have rolled 
away into the unknown depths of dreamless past — remem- 
bered only on the historic page — the Pythian army will 
have reached the years of manhood's prime, and, gaining 
strength and hope with added years of noble work and 
grand success, will lead the world of ' ' toilers for the race 
of man," and, pointing backward to the past with pride, 
lead onward through the future years with truer hearts 
and stronger hopes, until the ''All Hail Hereafter" will 
roll back its shadowy portals and reveal the splendors of 
that peaceful day, when every man in every clime shall 
know the meaning of our mystic words, and, grasping 
each other by the hand, will welcome each a "Pythian 
Knight" 




HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 547 

THE UNIFORM RANK. 

BY. GEN. FRANK PARSON, OF MISSOURI. 

WE seek no war; these gathered bands, 
Clad in bright, soldierly array, 
Raise not in rage destroying hands, 
But lift them heavenward to pray. 

To pray that Friendship ne'er may die, 

That Charity may bless the race, 
And kind Benevolence supply 

To every Knight each needed grace. 

Our gleaming blades fit emblems are 

Of stainless Honor, ever bright, 
And Purity of character, 

Devoted to the cause of right. 

As Pythians bound, we seek to save 

From every ill that each may meet ; 
Ready disease and death to brave, 

For those whom we as brothers greet. 

Nor even when the hand of death 

Lays low the head of a Sir Knight 
Do efforts cease with fleeting breath, 

Nor Friendship die beneath the blight. 

His widow and his orphan still 

Are subjects of our kindest care ; 
Anxious each duty to fulfill, 

That helps them sorrow's cross to bear. 

Around the world we fain would fold 

The mantle of this Pythian love, 
And when all nations are enrolled, 

March to the Supreme Lodge above, 



54-8 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



ADDRESS 

BY HON. JOHN A. HINSEY, P. G. C. AND S. R. 

[Hon. John A. Hinsey, Past Grand Chancellor and Supreme Repre- 
sentative of Wisconsin, is one of the most earnest Pythians of that State, 
as well as one of the prominent attorneys of Milwaukee, standing at the 
head of his profession. He has been for a number of years the attorney 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company, having the 
care and management of all the legal business of that great corporation. 
On the occasion of the dedication of the new Pythian Hall, corner of 
Grand Avenue and West Water Street, Milwaukee, on May 16, 1885, 
Judge Hinsey was selected as the orator of the occasion, and delivered 
the following address. — J. R. C] 

Ladies and Gentlemen, and Brother Knights : 

ON the walls of retrospection's aisles hang, festooned 
with dear reminiscences, beautiful pictures of forms, 
faces and events that once moved in all of life's 
activity. Their recall, whether it be in the quiet bliss of 
soft reverie or in the flush of exciting thought, invariably 
affords a happiness we would have linger with us indef- 
initely. Nor time nor faculty is mine to exhibit in the 
garniture of the well-rounded sentences and the sublime 
thoughts of either orator or eloquent, any or all of them, 
and yet it is my pleasure on this most auspicious occasion 
to lead you through some of those aisles, and to point 
with pride to this picture, or to pass — while the eye 
rounds out to rotund beauty — before that; perhaps to 
awaken joys or start a tear, a sigh or a regret as we look 
upon others. But, nay ; life has too many corridors, and 
in the few moments that have so kindly been allotted to 
me, I can only lead you through a few of those aisles, on, 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 549 

and on, and on, into the fine structure we are proud to 
call Crescent Lodge, No. 23, Knights of Pythias, of Wis- 
consin ; and while the brief journey is being made, to 
direct your attention to a few of the pictures that decorate 
its past and present, though to each and every member of 
Crescent Lodge it needs none such adornments, for they 
hang constantly on memory's walls — even pass before us 
in magnificent panoramic procession — but to those who 
have never seen or participated in them, their unveiling 
may, I hope, have more than a momentary interest. 

It has just been your fortune to enjoy the sweet 
melody of noble eloquence as it richly rendered the grand 
story of the still grander friendship of Damon and Pythias. 
Yet I may be permitted to add that that same friendship 
is the foundation stone of Crescent Lodge, No. 23. Upon 
it, it was projected ; on it, it was erected ; and to-day it is 
the solid rock upon which the splendid Lodge stands. 

Admiration for and desire to emulate and practice the 
noble example of devotion which it unfolds to the world, 
prompted your speaker to seek admission to those pre- 
cincts where the grand mission of Pythian Friendship was 
unfolded, and having been honored by being chosen a 
Pythian, he at once joined others entertaining like mo- 
tives in securing the organization and institution of a 
Lodge of Knights of Pythias, to be located in that familiar 
part of our city, the South Side, and was soon made 
happy in participating in the institution, which was con- 
summated February 3, 1879. 

Did time permit, gladly would I have you stand by and 
watch the building of our temple- — how the original band 
of nineteen willing workers gathered choice material from 
chosen fields with which to build their house — how the 
additions were infused with the same exertions — how, like 
banded bees, all sought humanity's gardens and brought 
in youth and vigor, and mental and moral strength — and 



55° PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

where old heads planned young hands painted, and all 
soon realized that the young Lodge had been born to live 
a long, useful life — and had before it an extensive field to 
till and a heavy harvest to garner — a field and a harvest 
exclusively held for years by the " Mother Lodge" and its 
German co-laborers. 

As it is, look out with me upon this field of the past, 
and over the domain that was wide and fertile and free, 
and when you realize — as many have already with much 
astonishment— that so many years had been permitted to 
pass with but one English lodge in Milwaukee, you will 
not upbraid the spirit that sought and pushed to existence 
Crescent Lodge, or disapprove of the surrender that was 
made — with some reluctance, it is true, but as happily 
true, with no animosity to the invader. And it is as easy 
as it is convenient to recall the many grave doubts that 
were entertained and expressed as to its ultimate success 
and permanency ; but Crescent Lodge did not come as of 
an ancient order of Knighthood. It was not born in 1 268 
by favor of Naples and Sicily; nor in 1448 by the grace 
of Rene of Anjou; nor in 1801, under the waving wand 
of the Sultan Selim. No, no ; it came a Crescent to in- 
crease in value, to enlarge in power, to grow in brilliancy 
— a star in the Pythian firmament that then looked down 
on Milwaukee. It chose a home in the hall of Schiller 
Lodge, No. 3, located then, as now, on the corner of Reed 
and Oregon streets, and at the close of the first year of its 
existence had added eighty-three members to its original 
number, and each subsequent year it has had an average 
membership of one hundred and twenty-six, the present 
membership being one hundred and fifty- one. Its finances 
are, and always have been, well managed. Progressive 
in spirit and prompt in action, the members of Crescent 
Lodge have adopted every new feature the Supreme 
Lodge, or the Order's individual advancement has put 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 55 I 

forth ; and to render the ritual of the Order in a manner 
highly commendable, worthy of all admiration and with 
profound solemnity, is their claim and pride. Quickly 
they saw the need and purpose of the Endowment feature, 
and as speedily assisted in establishing Section 247 of 
that Rank. 

Never lagging or lacking in Pythian ardor, the military 
features of the Order were readily and rapidly embraced, 
and as a result the Lodge boasts of having formed, and 
now maintaining, a magnificent Division of the Uniform 
Rank. 

All those kindly offices the Order has for its members 
to perform have been willingly done, and no brother or 
brother's family have remained in distress longer than their 
condition became known, and only upon two occasions 
has the Lodge been called on to perform the last sad rites 
the living can render the dead. 

I may be pardoned in claiming, as I do with all possi- 
ble pride and no hesitancy, and as a fact beyond dispute, 
that in our coterie of membership there is the social, 
moral, intellectual, kind and benevolent character of the 
superlative order, and we believe our contingent of the 
Pythian fraternity thoroughly know, appreciate and per- 
form their duties to themselves and their fellow-men. 

In the spirit of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence, 
they strive to correct the errors, reprove the irregularities, 
and by counsel, guard their fellow-members against every 
breach of fidelity. To preserve the reputation of the 
fraternity unsullied is their constant care, and for this pur- 
pose, and in their province, they suggest to their inferiors 
obedience and submission ; to their equals, courtesy and 
affability ; and to their superiors, kindness and conde- 
scension ; and no matter what language he speaks, if he 
understands ours — in what country he has lived — what re- 
ligion or creed he avows, favors or holds — no matter what 



552 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

may be his political opinions — whether he is rich or poor 
— a king upon his throne or a beggar upon the thorough- 
fare — if the man be honorable, honest, moral and reputable, 
he meets with a cordial greeting and a kind invitation to 
join us in practicing brotherly love and friendship, and 
cultivating the principles of true character. For it is our 
aim and endeavor to elevate ourselves and those who seek 
our associations, as well as our fellow-men in general. 
And when we fail or err, that forgiveness which is Divine 
is sought as the office of a human heart. 




HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 553 



LIEUT. FREDERICK F. KISLINGBURY. 

MEMORIAL ADDRESS, BY WILLIAM MILL BUTLER, EDITOR OF 
THE PYTHAIN KNIGHT. 

[Among the graves decorated at Mt. Hope Cemetery, near Rochester, 
N. Y. } on May 30, 1887, the memorial day of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, none were more profusely adorned than that of Lieutenant Fred- 
erick F. Kislingbury, the Arctic hero, and veteran of the late war. In 
addition to the floral tributes and other tokens deposited by the general 
committee, the members of Kislingbury memorial lodge, Knights of 
Pythias, brought a beautiful testimonial of their respect and affection for 
him in whose honor this lodge was instituted. It consisted of a Pythian 
flag, made for the occasion out of blue and yellow and red material, 
emblazoned with the shield of the Order. The flag was planted on the 
grave by the members of the lodge, side by side with the stars and stripes, 
amid a profuse assortment of choice flowers and plants. There were 
present at the grave, besides many spectators, the pupils of Mrs. George 
D. Harris' select school ; also Walter and Douglass Kislingbury, two of 
the sons of Lieutenant Kislingbury, and other relatives. Who Lieuten- 
ant Kislingbury was is best told by William Mill Butler, editor of the 
Pythian Knight, in the following memorial address which he delivered 
before Kislingbury Lodge. — J. R. C] 

Officers and Members of Kislingbury Lodge: 

THIS is the day upon which, with loving hands, the 
people of this country delight to strew flowers on the 
graves of the soldiers who died for the Union. 
Thousands of plants unfolded their beautiful blossoms, and 
shed their sweetest perfumes at Mt. Hope to-day, in 
honor of those who fought for the dear old flag, and who 
are no more. I was requested by my friend, Mr. Harris, 
to say a few words to the children, this morning, about 
one of those heroes in particular; namely, Lieutenant 
Frederick F. Kislingbury. 



554 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

"Who was Lieutenant Kislingbury, and what did he 
do?" some of the little ones might ask. I wish I had 
the power of a Hans Christian Andersen to paint him in 
words as he was, and to do justice to the touching story 
of his noble, unselfish life and his heroic death. To begin 
with, he was born in England, near the Queen's residence, 
Windsor Castle, on Christmas day, 1847, an ^ came to 
this country with his parents when still a little boy. It 
was here in Rochester that he went to school and learned 
his lessons and studied history; and the more he read 
about George Washington, and those other grand old 
patriots who made this country free, the more he became 
filled with love for his adopted land, so that when he grew 
to manhood and found the flag of the Union in danger he 
shouldered his musket with the Boys in Blue and resolved 
to do what he could to help put down the rebellion. He 
enlisted as a member of Company E, of the Fifty-Fourth 
Regiment, which is now known as the Eighth Separate 
Company, or Selye Citizen Corps. This company and 
the regiment were ordered to Elmira, where for 107 days 
they guarded the Southern prisoners captured in battle 
and brought north for safe keeping. So faithfully did the 
young soldier perform his duty that he was made a cor- 
poral, and when his time for service was finished he 
returned to Rochester and went to work again in the store 
of Smith, Perkins & Co., down near the Four Corners, 
where he had been employed at the time of his enlist- 
ment. The war did not come to an end, however, and 
when it began to look darker and darker for the Union 
cause, he again enlisted and went to the front in a cavalry 
regiment, fighting the battles of the Union for two years, 
and until the close of the war. 

Next we find him stationed at Detroit, Mich., in the 
War Department, Division of the Lakes, where he rose to 
the position of chief clerk. At this time a call was made 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 555 

for volunteers against the Indians, who were becoming 
very troublesome out west, and he at once responded and 
was given command of a band of scouts. For several 
years he led an exciting life on the plains, undergoing 
many hardships and trials which tested his bravery as a 
soldier. So used to this did he become, however, that he 
entered the regular army, and as second lieutenant of the 
Eleventh Infantry, continued his southwestern and west- 
ern campaigns. Speaking of him at this period of his 
career, one of his fellow-soldiers, writing from Montana 
Territory, on the 7th of the present month, says : 

' ' No one knew Lieutenant Kislingbury in life better 
or more thoroughly than his brother comrades and asso- 
ciates in the army. He was one of us. living here on the 
isolated frontier, in daily companionship with us for many 
years. He came here when this part of the country was 
full of perils. A man without fear, when assigned to duty 
wherein the chances of life and death were about even, he 
never hesitated nor failed to do the right thing. He was 
one of the best officers in the service to handle Indians, 
which can be testified to by General Miles, Colonel Ilges, 
and various other commanders under whom he served." 
Colonel Ilges, I may here state, has already related many 
anecdotes concerning our departed friend, of whom he 
says: "I soon learned to love and admire him for his 
genial and soldierly qualities. He was, " continues Colo- 
nel Ilges, ' ' at that time about thirty-five years of age, of 
middle stature, but of powerful frame. He was very fond 
of wearing moccasins and other Indian trinkets, such as 
belt and tobacco pouch. His gait was that of a natural 
born sailor. His features were remarkably impressive — a 
strong, massive forehead, dark blue or gray eyes, a large 
aquiline nose, a handsome, firmly-set mouth and ruddy 
complexion. He was of unusual intellect, of vivid imagi- 
nation and of mercurial as well as highly sanguine temper- 



556 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

ament. He was a good talker, and loved to sit for hours 
relating incidents of the late war and camp life since ; but, 
above all, his warm-heartedness and kindly acts to every 
one—brother officers, soldiers and Indians alike — will 
never be forgotten by those who had the good fortune of 
his personal acquaintance. The Crow Indians fairly wor- 
shiped him and called him the Dancing Chief, because he 
had, I believe, upon one occasion, participated in a few 
steps at a war-dance. He was one of the most accom- 
plished and graceful sign-talkers I have ever seen, and 
of him it was said that he could make any Indian ashamed 
of himself in that language." 

I shall not attempt to detail even the most interesting 
adventures of Lieutenant Kislingbury — how, for instance, 
on one occasion, in November, 1880, with a dozen soldiers 
and a few friendly Crow Indians, he kept at bay for nearly 
a week an attacking party of fifty, armed with Winchester 
rifles, and himself killed the largest and most desperate of 
the hostile savages ; neither shall I try to relate how, a 
month later, he rode 180 miles, through winter's fiercest 
storms, in less than four days, in order to reach the bed- 
side of his dying wife at Fort Custer. It was the second 
time that death had robbed him of one so near and dear 
to him, and he never fully recovered from the shock, 
although he showed a father's loving and tender care for 
his four motherless little boys, even when the darkness of 
the valley of the shadow of death was closing around him. 

In 1880 our government decided to send a party of 
men up near the North Pole to observe the weather and 
compare notes, on their return, with other parties sent as 
high up as possible in other countries. Much useful 
information was expected to be gained in this way, and at 
the same time the American expedition hoped to find out 
something more about the great country of snow and ice, 
and to push on a little nearer to the Pole than any one had 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. $$? 

ever been able to get before. When the call for volun- 
teers to go on this perilous expedition was issued, Lieu- 
tenant Kislingbury was again among the foremost to 
respond, ever ready and willing to do his duty in whatever 
direction the government might need his services. 

It was on this expedition that he proved himself, more 
than ever before, a hero. From the 7th day of July, 
1 88 1, when he started north from St. John, Newfound- 
land, as second officer in command, to the 1st day of 
June, 1884, when he laid down to die of hunger at Cape 
Sabine, his life was one grand sacrifice for his comrades. 
There is a great deal yet to be learned about what was 
done up north by the commander of the expedition arid 
his men. They were successful in making the weather 
observations for which they had been sent ; they succeeded 
also in getting nearer than any one before to the North 
Pole, but when they started to return home it was found 
that terrible blunders had been made by those who were 
to provide them with food at the different stopping places. 
Overtaken by furious gales and bitter cold, unable to 
cross a large body of water from the spot to which their 
commander had unfortunately led them, they were forced 
to go into camp and wait for help. When help did finally 
reach them on June 22d, three years ago, only seven out 
twenty-five remained to tell the story of their terrible 
sufferings. 

I have said that much yet remains to be told to the 
public concerning this expedition in order that the blame 
for this terrible sacrifice of life may fall where it belongs. 
I may add that everything that has so far been learned 
about Lieutenant Kislingbury, and his conduct during all 
this time, can only increase the love and respect which all 
who knew him had felt for him before he went north. 
Although he was deprived of his proper position through 
the jealousy and underhanded dealings of others above and 



558 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 

below him, he never complained, but continued to do all 
that lay in his power to further the success of the expedi- 
tion and to save as long as possible the lives of the men 
who had gone far from friends and home under his 
direct supervision and care. It would take many hours 
to properly relate the story of his devotion to duty and 
his fellow-men. Had I the time I might tell you how he 
helped to drag the heavy sledges over the ice ; how he 
hunted for game as long as he had a remnant of strength 
left ; how again and again he helped to get the party out 
of critical situations by his cool judgment and wise coun- 
sels ; how he saved the life of the very man who cruelly 
wronged him and afterwards hastened his own death by 
unfeeling words and conduct. This and much more I 
might tell, had we the time to listen. I will, however, 
quote just one or two things concerning him from the 
book of the commander of the expedition. On November 
i, 1883, when the party was already struggling with slow 
starvation, we find the following entry : 

" Lieutenant Kislingbury is suffering very much, and 
fainted twice this evening from his injury received while 
sledging " — that is, dragging the heavy loads over the ice 
in common with the men, and sharing with them every 
hardship and danger, although had he wished he might 
well have spared himself. On the next day the doctor 
pronounced the injury very serious and probably fatal, yet 
on January 18th following we find him again dragging a 
heavy load with six of his men, this time the dead body 
of Sergeant Cross, covered with the American flag. Cross 
was the first to die, and Lieutenant Kislingbury, weak 
though he was, saw to it that his comrade was given a 
soldier's funeral. 

On March 7th, we read : ' ' Lieutenant Kislingbury 
went to the iceberg, about three-fourths of a mile distant, 
hunting, and saw some bear tracks. The ice was very thin 



HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 559 

in places, and he was unfortunate enough to break through 
and wet his feet, from which he must suffer much, as his 
clothing must be dried out by the heat of his own body. 
I and several others offered to dry pieces for him, but he 
thanked us and declined." 

This, and still later efforts on his part to save the life 
of the party, did not fail to cut off his own chances for 
life, and on June ist he became unconscious, dying at 3 
o'clock in the afternoon. "The last thing he did," says 
the commander of the expedition, * ' was to sing the dox- 
ology. He was the most religious man in the party," 
further says Lieutenant Greely, "and did much good 
among the men. He held services over the dead and 
prayed frequently with the living." 

A christian soldier, a hero and a martyr to science, we 
do well to honor his memory to-day, and I may add that 
it is for these qualities that the Knights of Pythias feel so 
proud to claim him as one of their number. He proved 
a true Knight, exemplifying in the most striking and 
beautiful manner the teachings of the Order; and if 
through jealousy he was not permitted to carry the flag of 
his country farthest north, he had at least the consolation 
of saluting the banner of the Knights of Pythias up far 
beyond the icy mountains of Greenland. This banner we 
have reverently placed upon his grave to-day, together 
with the stars and stripes. And while we honor the many 
heroes whose graves were decorated to-day, we feel that 
too much cannot be said and done in praise and honor of 
the hero of Cape Sabine. 



S60 PYTHIAN KNIGHTHOOD. 



THE PYTHIAN FLAG UP NORTH. 

[" Sunday, May 13, 1883 — Worked all forenoon making a Knights 
of Pythias flag. Wednesday, May 16, 1883 — At 6 p. m. I started for 
Dutch Island, to take high tide readings. Sergeant Lynn accompanied 
me. I took my Knights of Pythias flag with me. When I arrived at 
the Island, I found Lieutenant Kislingbury there. So we all climbed up 
a large iceberg, and I unfurled the flag, and Lieutenant Kislingbury fired 
a salute from his rifle." — Diary of Sergeant William H. Cross, Fort Conger, 
Arctic Regions, ,] 

FAR in the ice-bound regions, up in the silent North, 
Many, ah, many a league away, their love for the flag shone 
forth. 
Lovingly one had fashioned it, on a Sunday morning blest, 
Deeming his task devotion — not a sin — on this day of rest. 

And he stitched, and pieced, and dreamed there, in the scanty 

Arctic sun, 
And he saw his home and loved ones, while his work was being 

done. 
He saw still more — the castle, the hall all dimly lit, 
And the Sons of Modern Knighthood, to whom his soul was knit. 

Lovingly he stitched there, and planned and worked away, 

Till the blue and the red and the yellow together were made to 

stay. 
Such a flag — such a Pythian banner ! 'twas the grandest that ever 

waved ! 
We would give a hundred others for this had it been saved. 

Three at the Island gathered, far from the camp were they ; 
Three up the iceberg clambered, to its highest summit gray ; 
There to the breeze was the banner, in all its glory, thrown ; 
There in the ice they planted it, the highest north e'er known. 

And a rifle broke the stillness of the awful region 'round. 
And hearty cheers rang out upon the silence all profound. 
'Twas Kislingbury's weapon that spoke it out on high : 
' ' Saluted be thou, Pythian flag, emblem that ne'er shall die ! 



